Customizable data management system

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to methods, systems, and computer-readable media related to a system having a plurality of users, designed to display a user-customized subset of item and/or provider information to the user.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/047,102, filed Sep. 8, 2014, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference. Reference is made to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/210,509, filed Mar. 14, 2014, and Ser. No.14/208,825, filed Mar. 13, 2014, the disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a customizable data management system thatenables users to personalize their online experience and contentproviders to collect user information to create a targeted onlineexperience for users.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Despite the various sophisticated methods developed by online contentproviders to enhance the user's online experience, a simple andexpedient system that provides users a personalized interface based onthe user's individual preferences remains elusive. In particular, thereis a substantial need for a system that efficiently selects, manages,and displays data relevant to a user's preferences. Moreover, it isdesirable to further enrich the user's online experience by synthesizinga data set that includes information related to an individual user'spersonal preferences as well as information related to preferencesshared by the user and one or more members of that user's online socialnetworking community.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention contemplates the following specific embodiments.Various modifications, additions and alterations may be made toembodiments described herein by one skilled in the art without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention. Such modifications,additions, and alterations are intended to fall within the scope of theclaims.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to solve technicalproblems arising in the context of managing vast quantities of dataabout items available from item providers, such that a user seeking tolocate particular items or particular item providers has a simplifiedexperience at his user interface. According to one aspect of theinvention, a data structure is established which allows for moreefficient data processing of data objects in the data structure to allowselected and tailored visual representations to be made available at thegraphical user interfaces of one or more user.

Another aspect of the invention provides a facility in a system withmultiple item providers and multiple users for tracking both itemproviders and users so that a rich array of tailored visualrepresentations can be provided to one of the users, based on activityby the other users and/or providers.

Therefore, the invention provides embodiment (a): a computer implementedmethod of selecting data objects for interaction with a user at agraphical user interface, the method comprising: receiving a data streamfrom an item provider, the data stream identifying items available fromthe item provider; storing a data object in a global database with aprovider identifier uniquely identifying the item provider; storing foreach item in the data stream a data object with an item identifieruniquely identifying the item; detecting a user interaction at agraphical user interface of a user device, the interaction with an itemor item provider data object representation, and creating a user dataobject with a user identifier uniquely identifying the user; creating ina tracking database an association between the user data object and theitem and/or item provider data object; and using the tracking databaseto select a customized data set of data objects based on theassociations in the tracking database, the customized data set being forpresentation at the graphical user interface. In one example, each dataobject of embodiment (a) is stored with an object identifier uniquelyidentifying that object, and the association between the user dataobject and the item and/or item provider data object is an associationbetween the object identifiers of those objects. Moreover, theassociation of embodiment (a) conforms to an association data structure,the association data structure comprising respective fields for thoseobject identifiers. The association can be further between those objectidentifiers and the user identifier, and optionally, the associationdata structure comprises a further field for the user identifier. In afurther example of embodiment (a), each data object can conform to anobject data structure, the object data structure comprising respectivefields for at least some of: an object identifier of that object; a useror provider identifier of a creator of that data object; a user, item,or provider identifier of a user, item or provider to which that dataobject relates; and additional information for said presentation at thegraphical user interface. The method of embodiment (a) can furtherinclude, subsequent to the item provider creating a new data objectassociated with the item and/or item provider data object, updating thecustomized data set to include the new data object. The global databaseof embodiment (a) can contain a category data object associated with theitem and/or item provider data object; and wherein at least one of theselected data objects is also associated with the category data objectin the tracking database, that data object being selected for inclusionin the customized set on that basis; and optionally, the method furthercomprises, subsequent to the item provider creating a new data objectassociated with the category data object, updating the customized set toinclude the new data object.

Moreover, the invention provides embodiment (b): a computer systemcomprising: a plurality of user devices each having a display interfaceavailable to a user; a plurality of item providers; a global database ofdata objects, each data object comprising a unique data objectidentifier of that object and a user, item, or provider identifier of auser, item or provider to which that data object relates; computerstorage storing: (i) for each item provider, a respective provider datatable comprising a unique provider identifier of that provider and oneor more item identifiers of items provided by that provider; (ii) foreach user, a respective user data table comprising a unique useridentifier of that user and one or more item identifiers, provideridentifiers, and/or category identifiers for items, providers and/orcategories in which that user has expressed a preference; and (iii) acustomized set of data tables selected for at least a first user, thecustomized set selected from the user data tables and provider datatables based on the item and/or the provider identifiers contained inthe first users data table; a global tracking database configuredresponsive to the first user expressing an additional preference for aprovider or item by instigating an association instruction at their userdevice to associate that first user's user identifier with an objectidentifier of a data object comprising the provider or item identifierof that provider or item; and an information exchange computerconfigured, responsive to the first user expressing the additionalinterest in the item or provider, to select one or more additionalprovider data tables and/or user data tables for inclusion in the firstuser's customized set to update that set, and to select at least onedata object based on the first user's updated set for display to thefirst user via the display interface of their user device. The globaldatabase of embodiment (b) can contain a category data object and thecategory data object is associated with the data object comprising theprovider or item identifier of the provider or item in which the userhas expressed a subsequent interest, and wherein the selected dataobject is also associated with the category data object in the trackingdatabase.

Also provided is embodiment (c): a computer system comprising: aplurality of user devices each having a display interface available to auser; a plurality of item providers; a global database of data objects,each data object comprising a unique object identifier of that objectand a user, item, or provider identifier of a user, item or provider towhich that object relates, the data objects including a user associationdata object comprising a target user identifier of a target user and afollower user identifier of a user following the target user, whereinthe global database is configured responsive to the target userexpressing a tracking interest in a data object representation byinstigating a tracking instruction at their user device to create a newderivative data object based on that data object; a global trackingdatabase configured responsive to the target user expressing thetracking interest in the data object to store an association between theuser identifier of the target user, the object identifier of that dataobject, and the object identifier of the created derivative data object;and an information exchange computer configured, responsive to thetarget user expressing the interest in the data object to access theglobal database and the global tracking database and to display thederivative data object representation to the follower user via thedisplay interface of their user device.

Embodiments (a)-(c) are used to implement various methods describedherein, as well as systems and computer readable media designed topractice those methods. For example, the following embodiment ((1)-(13))relate to how embodiment (a)-(c) can be used:

Embodiment (1): a method of exchanging brand information on a system,wherein the system has (i) a plurality of consumer-users including afirst consumer-user and one or more additional consumer-users, and (ii)a plurality of brands including a first brand, the method comprisingacts of: (a) receiving first brand information; (b) receiving firstbrand preference information indicating that the first consumer-user hasexpressed a preference for the first brand information; (c) filteringthe first brand information to create a subset of first brandinformation that is provided to the first consumer-user; (d) displayingto the first consumer-user one or more data object representationsrelating to the subset of the first brand information; (e) receiving oneor more first consumer-user interactions with the one or more dataobject representations relating to the subset of first brandinformation; (f) displaying to the first brand: interaction datarelating to the first brand and specific to one or more consumer-users;interaction data related to the first brand aggregated for a pluralityof consumer-users on the system; comparative interaction data from aplurality of customer-users related to the first brand relative to a oneor more other brands on the system; or combinations thereof.

Embodiment (1) can further include: receiving additional brandinformation from a plurality of brands; receiving additional brandpreference information indicating that the first consumer-user hasexpressed a preference for an additional subset of the additional brandinformation; filtering the first brand information and the additionalbrand information to create one or more supplemental subsets ofadditional brand information that is provided to the firstconsumer-user; displaying to the first consumer-user one or more dataobject representations relating to the one or more supplemental subsetsof additional brand information; receiving one or more firstconsumer-user interactions with the one or more data objectrepresentations relating to the one or more supplemental subsets ofadditional brand information; and displaying to each of the additionalbrands: (i) interaction data relating to the one or more additionalbrands and specific to the one or more consumer-users expressing apreference for the one or more additional brand information; (ii)interaction data related to the one or more additional brands aggregatedfor a plurality of consumer-users on the system; (iii) comparativeinteraction data from a plurality of customer-users related to the oneor more additional brands relative to a one or more other brands on thesystem; or (iv) combinations thereof.

Moreover, embodiment (1) can further comprise displaying to the firstconsumer-user first brand information not previously displayed to thefirst consumer-user on the system. The displaying step (d) can alsoinclude displaying to one or more additional consumer-users one or moredata object representations relating to the subset of the first brandinformation, wherein the one or more additional consumer-users have arelationship with the first consumer-user.

The interaction data in embodiment (1) comprises the number and/ordemographic information related to (i) one or more consumers-users ofthe plurality of consumer-users on the system, (ii) consumers-usersexpressing a preference for one or more interest categories, (iii) oneof more consumer-users of the plurality of consumer-users on the systemexpressing a preference for the first brand, (iv) one or moreconsumer-users on the system expressing a preference for the first brandcommercial item, (v) all consumer-users of the system, or (vi)combinations thereof.

The one or more first consumer-user interactions with the subset of dataobject representations in embodiment (1) includes: viewing one or moredata object representations of the subset, expressing a preference forone or more data object representations of the subset, commenting on oneor more data object representations in the subset, commenting on one ormore derivative data object representations in the subset, participatingin a dialog regarding one or more data object representations in thesubset, offering an opinion regarding one or more data objectrepresentations of the subset, providing a rating for one or more dataobject representations of the subset, clicking through one or more dataobject representations of the subset to view additional details,clicking through one or more data object of the subset to view firstbrand-hosted information, participating in a survey regarding one ormore data object representations of the subset, requesting furtherinformation from the first brand regarding one or more data objectrepresentations of the subset, buying a commercial item displayed in oneor more data object representations of the subset from a third-partyretailer/reseller, buying a commercial item displayed in one or moredata object representations of the subset directly from the first brand,buying a commercial item displayed in one or more data objectrepresentations of the subset from an individual, participating in anauction regarding one or more data object representations of the subset,offering a commercial item displayed in one or more data objectrepresentations in the subset for free, loan, sale, lease, and/orrental, requesting to purchase a commercial item displayed in one ormore data object representations in the subset, requesting that adiscontinued commercial item displayed in one or more data objectrepresentations in the subset is re-introduced by the first brand and/oran authorized retailer/reseller thereof, suggesting to the first brandproduct ideas, improvements, and/or corrections regarding one or moredata objects in the subset, or combinations thereof.

The interaction data of embodiment (1) includes first brand dataobject-consumer clicks, first brand data object consumer impressions,first brand derivative data object consumer clicks, first brandderivative data object-system consumer impressions, totalsystem-consumer clicks, system-consumer clicks per interest category,total system-consumer impressions, system-consumer impressions perinterest category, average interest category click through rate,interest category seasonal trend data, average conversion rate, orcombinations thereof.

The demographic information of embodiment (1) comprises gender,ethnicity, age, income, education, home ownership, location, employmentstatus, shopping history, personal interests and/or hobbies, orcombinations thereof.

The comparative interaction data of embodiment (1) comprises the numberand/or demographic information related to (i) one or moreconsumers-users of the plurality of consumer-users on the system, (ii)consumers-users expressing a preference for one or more interestcategories, (iii) one of more consumer-users of the plurality ofconsumer-users on the system expressing a preference for the firstbrand, (iv) one or more consumer-users on the system expressing apreference for the first brand commercial item, (v) all consumer-usersof the system, or (vi) combinations thereof.

The comparative interaction data of embodiment (1) can further comprisefirst brand data object representation-consumer clicks, first brand dataobject representation-consumer impressions, first brand derivative dataobject representation consumer clicks, first brand derivative dataobject representation-consumer impressions, total system-consumerclicks, system-consumer clicks per interest category, totalsystem-consumer impressions, system-consumer impressions per interestcategory, average interest category click through rate, interestcategory seasonal trend data, average conversion rate, or combinationsthereof.

The comparative interaction data of embodiment (1) is optionallycollected over a defined time interval. For example, the defined timeinterval is a time period in which the first brand and/or a first brandcompetitor has participated in the system.

The comparative interaction data of embodiment (1) further comprisesbrand ranking data for the first brand in relation to the plurality ofbrands; and/or brand ranking data for the first brand in relation to oneor more competitor brands of the plurality of brands.

The first brand information of embodiment (1) comprises general brandinformation including information related to one or more brandtrademarks, one or more brand logos, one or more commercial item logos,brand description, interest categories associated with brand, brandmedia, brand purchasing information, retail information, brandpromotional information, information related brands within the brandportfolio, related brand description, related brand products, orcombinations thereof. For example, brand media includes a brand-specificvideo file, a brand-specific audio file, or print media, and/orbrand-specific supporting documents and information comprises one ormore literature references, reviews, blog link, press release, forumlink, or combinations thereof. In addition, the first brand informationof embodiment (1) comprises first brand commercial item informationincluding information related to one or more commercial item trademarks,commercial item description information, commercial item media,commercial item purchasing information, commercial item retailinformation, commercial item promotional information, related firstbrand products, or combinations thereof.

The commercial item description information of embodiment (1) comprisesan item image, one or more item-specific supporting documents andinformation, one or more commercial item reviews, a commercial itemrating, or combinations thereof. For example, commercial item mediaincludes a commercial item-specific video file, a commercialitem-specific audio file, or print media; commercial item-specificsupporting documents and information comprises one or more literaturereferences, reviews, blog link, press release, forum link, orcombinations thereof.

The first brand preference information of embodiment (1) includes systemtracking preference for the first brand information and the methodfurther comprises filtering the first brand information to create afirst supplemental subset of first brand information that is provided tothe first consumer-user expressing a system tracking preference for thefirst brand information; and displaying to the first consumer user oneor more derivative data object representations relating to the firstsupplemental subset of the first brand information, wherein the one ormore derivative data objects are associated in the system with the oneor more data objects.

The method of embodiment (1) can further include receiving firstconsumer-user preference information indicating that an additionalconsumer-user has a system tracking preference for the firstconsumer-user; filtering the first brand information to create a secondsupplemental subset of first brand information that is provided to theadditional consumer-user expressing a system tracking preference for thefirst consumer-user; and displaying to the additional consumer-user oneor more data object representations and/or derivative data objectrepresentations relating to the second supplemental subset of the firstbrand information. The method of embodiment (1) can also includereceiving first consumer-user preference information indicating that afirst brand-user has a system tracking preference for the firstconsumer-user; filtering the first brand information to create a thirdsupplemental subset of first brand information that is provided to thefirst brand-user expressing a system tracking preference for the firstconsumer-user; and displaying to the first brand-user one or more dataobject representations and/or derivative data object representationsrelating to the third supplemental subset of the first brandinformation.

The system tracking preference of embodiment (1) is expressed byfollowing and/or listing a data object representation and/or aderivative data object representation.

The method of embodiment (1) can further include receiving additionalbrand preference information indicating that an additional brand of theplurality of brands has a preference for the first consumer-user; anddisplaying to the additional brand one or more data objectrepresentations relating to the subset of the first brand information.In one example of embodiment (1), a preference is expressed as afollowing, listing, friending, and/or liking a data objectrepresentation and/or a derivative data object representation. A systemtracking preference can be selected from following and/or listing a dataobject representation and/or a derivative data object representation.For example, the expression of a system tracking preference for a dataobject representation by the first consumer-user generates a derivativedata object based on the data object, wherein the derivative data objectis associated in the system with the data object and the firstconsumer-user. The expression of a system tracking preference for a dataobject representation by a first brand-user can generate a derivativedata object based on the data object, wherein the derivative data objectis associated in the system with the data object and the firstbrand-user. In a specific example, a modification to a data objectgenerates a modification to all derivative data objects of the dataobject. The modification can include an edit to one or more data objectelements, an addition to the data object, deletion of one or more dataobject elements, the addition of a comment regarding a data object, orcombinations thereof.

The system in embodiment (1) can include a first brand-user and themethod further comprises displaying to the first brand-user interactiondata related to the plurality of consumer-users expressing a preferencefor the first brand information; displaying to the first brand-user thesubset of data object representations displayed to the firstconsumer-user; receiving subset preference information indicating thatthe first brand-user has expressed a preference for one or more dataobject representations of the subset; and displaying to the first branduser interactions with the subset of data object representationsdisplayed to the first consumer-user and the first brand-user.

The method of embodiment (1) can further include receiving additionalfirst brand information responsive to the first brand interaction dataand/or the first brand comparative interaction data. The additionalfirst brand information can include brand media, brand purchasinginformation, retail information, brand promotional information, one ormore brand-specific supporting documents and information, one or morebrand reviews, a brand rating, commercial item media, commercial itempurchasing information, commercial item retail information, commercialitem promotional information, one or more item-specific supportingdocuments and information, one or more commercial item reviews, acommercial item rating, or combinations thereof.

Embodiment (1)(a) relates to the subset of first brand informationcreated by the method of embodiment (1), and embodiment (1)(b) relatesto the subset of data object representations displayed to the firstconsumer-user by the method of embodiment (1).

Embodiment (2): a system, comprising: at least one processor, programmedto: receive first brand information; receive first brand preferenceinformation indicating that the first consumer-user has expressed apreference for the first brand information; filter the first brandinformation to create a subset of first brand information that isprovided to the first consumer-user; display to the first consumer-userone or more data object representations relating to the subset of thefirst brand information; receive one or more first consumer-userinteractions with the subset of data object representations displayed tothe first consumer-user; display to the first brand: interaction datarelating to the first brand and specific to one or more consumer-users;interaction data related to the first brand aggregated for a pluralityof consumer-users on the system; comparative interaction data from aplurality of customer-users related to the first brand relative to a oneor more other brands on the system; or combinations thereof.

The processor of embodiment (2) can be further programmed to receiveadditional brand information from a plurality of brands; receiveadditional brand preference information indicating that the firstconsumer-user has expressed a preference for an additional subset of theadditional brand information; filter the first brand information and theadditional brand information to create one or more supplemental subsetsof additional brand information that is provided to the firstconsumer-user; display to the first consumer-user one or more dataobject representations relating to the one or more supplemental subsetsof additional brand information; receive one or more first consumer-userinteractions with the one or more data object representations relatingto the one or more supplemental subsets of additional brand information;and display to each of the additional brands: (i) interaction datarelating to the one or more additional brands and specific to the one ormore consumer-users expressing a preference for the one or moreadditional brand information; (ii) interaction data related to the oneor more additional brands aggregated for a plurality of consumer-userson the system; (iii) comparative interaction data from a plurality ofcustomer-users related to the one or more additional brands relative toa one or more other brands on the system; or (iv) combinations thereof.The processor can be further programmed to display to the firstconsumer-user first brand information not previously displayed to thefirst consumer-user on the system. The processor is further programmedto display, to one or more additional consumer-users, the one or moredata object representations relating to the subset of the first brandinformation, wherein the one or more additional consumer-users have arelationship with the first consumer-user.

The interaction data of embodiment (2) can comprise the number and/ordemographic information related to (i) one or more consumers-users ofthe plurality of consumer-users on the system, (ii) consumers-usersexpressing a preference for one or more interest categories, (iii) oneof more consumer-users of the plurality of consumer-users on the systemexpressing a preference for the first brand, (iv) one or moreconsumer-users on the system expressing a preference for the first brandcommercial item, (v) all consumer-users of the system, or (vi)combinations thereof.

In embodiment (2), the one or more first consumer-user interactions withthe subset of data object representations includes: viewing one or moredata object representations of the subset, expressing a preference forone or more data object representations of the subset, commenting on oneor more data object representations in the subset, commenting on one ormore derivative data object representations in the subset, participatingin a dialog regarding one or more data object representations in thesubset, offering an opinion regarding one or more data objectrepresentations of the subset, providing a rating for one or more dataobject representations of the subset, clicking through one or more dataobject representations of the subset to view additional details,clicking through one or more data object representations of the subsetto view first brand-hosted information, participating in a surveyregarding one or more data object representations of the subset,requesting further information from the first brand regarding one ormore data object representations of the subset, buying a commercial itemdisplayed in one or more data object representations of the subset froma third-party retailer/reseller, buying a commercial item displayed inone or more data object representations of the subset directly from thefirst brand, buying a commercial item displayed in one or more dataobject representations of the subset from an individual, participatingin an auction regarding one or more data object representations of thesubset, offering a commercial item displayed in one or more data objectrepresentations in the subset for free, loan, sale, lease, and/orrental, requesting to purchase a commercial item displayed in one ormore data object representations in the subset, requesting that adiscontinued commercial item displayed in one or more data objectrepresentations in the subset is re-introduced by the first brand and/oran authorized retailer/reseller thereof, suggesting to the first brandproduct ideas, improvements, and/or corrections regarding one or moredata object representations in the subset, or combinations thereof.

Interaction data, as used in embodiment (2), includes first brand dataobject representation-consumer clicks, first brand data objectrepresentation consumer impressions, first brand derivative data objectrepresentation consumer clicks, first brand derivative data objectrepresentation-system consumer impressions, total system-consumerclicks, system-consumer clicks per interest category, totalsystem-consumer impressions, system-consumer impressions per interestcategory, average interest category click through rate, interestcategory seasonal trend data, average conversion rate, or combinationsthereof. Likewise, demographic information, as used in embodiment (2),comprises gender, ethnicity, age, income, education, home ownership,location, employment status, shopping history, personal interests and/orhobbies, or combinations thereof.

The comparative interaction data of embodiment (2) for the first brandrelative to the plurality of brands on the system and/or a subset of theplurality of brands on the system comprises the number and/ordemographic information related to (i) one or more consumers-users ofthe plurality of consumer-users on the system, (ii) consumers-usersexpressing a preference for one or more interest categories, (iii) oneof more consumer-users of the plurality of consumer-users on the systemexpressing a preference for the first brand, (iv) one or moreconsumer-users on the system expressing a preference for the first brandcommercial item, (v) all consumer-users of the system, or (vi)combinations thereof. In addition, comparative interaction datacomprises first brand data object representation-consumer clicks, firstbrand data object representation-consumer impressions, first brandderivative data object representation consumer clicks, first brandderivative data object representation-consumer impressions, totalsystem-consumer clicks, system-consumer clicks per interest category,total system-consumer impressions, system-consumer impressions perinterest category, average interest category click through rate,interest category seasonal trend data, average conversion rate, orcombinations thereof. As used in this specific example, demographicinformation comprises gender, ethnicity, age, income, education, homeownership, location, employment status, shopping history, personalinterests and/or hobbies, or combinations thereof.

Comparative interaction data in embodiment (2) can be collected over adefined time interval, e.g., a time period in which the first brandand/or a first brand competitor has participated in the system.

Moreover, comparative interaction data in embodiment (2) can furtherinclude brand ranking data for the first brand in relation to theplurality of brands, e.g., comparative interaction data furthercomprises brand ranking data for the first brand in relation to one ormore competitor brands of the plurality of brands.

The first brand information of embodiment (2) can include general brandinformation including information related to one or more brandtrademarks, one or more brand logos, one or more commercial item logos,brand description, interest categories associated with brand, brandmedia, brand purchasing information, retail information, brandpromotional information, information related brands within the brandportfolio, related brand description, related brand products, orcombinations thereof. In this specific embodiment, brand descriptioninformation comprises a brand image, one or more brand-specificsupporting documents and information, one or more brand reviews, a brandrating, or combinations thereof. Brand media includes a brand-specificvideo file, a brand-specific audio file, or print media; andbrand-specific supporting documents and information comprises one ormore literature references, reviews, blog link, press release, forumlink, or combinations thereof.

The first brand information of embodiment (2) can include first brandcommercial item information including information related to one or morecommercial item trademarks, commercial item description information,commercial item media, commercial item purchasing information,commercial item retail information, commercial item promotionalinformation, related first brand products, or combinations thereof. Inthis example, commercial item description information comprises an itemimage, one or more item-specific supporting documents and information,one or more commercial item reviews, a commercial item rating, orcombinations thereof; commercial item media includes a commercialitem-specific video file, a commercial item-specific audio file, orprint media; and/or commercial item-specific supporting documents andinformation comprises one or more literature references, reviews, bloglink, press release, forum link, or combinations thereof.

The first brand preference information of embodiment (2) includes systemtracking preference for the first brand information and the processor isfurther programmed to filter the first brand information to create afirst supplemental subset of first brand information that is provided tothe first consumer-user expressing a system tracking preference for thefirst brand information; and display to the first consumer user one ormore derivative data object representations relating to the firstsupplemental subset of the first brand information, wherein the one ormore derivative data objects are associated in the system with the oneor more data objects.

The processor of embodiment (2) can be further programmed to receivefirst consumer-user preference information indicating that an additionalconsumer-user has a system tracking preference for the firstconsumer-user; filter the first brand information to create a secondsupplemental subset of first brand information that is provided to theadditional consumer-user expressing a system tracking preference for thefirst consumer-user; and display to the additional consumer-user one ormore data object representations and/or derivative data objectrepresentations relating to the second supplemental subset of the firstbrand information. The processor of this embodiment (2) can be furtherprogrammed to receive first consumer-user preference informationindicating that a first brand-user has a system tracking preference forthe first consumer-user; filter the first brand information to create athird supplemental subset of first brand information that is provided tothe first brand-user expressing a system tracking preference for thefirst consumer-user; and display to the first brand-user one or moredata object representations and/or derivative data objectrepresentations relating to the third supplemental subset of the firstbrand information.

As used in embodiment (2), a system tracking preference is expressed byfollowing and/or listing a data object representation and/or aderivative data object representation.

The processor of embodiment (2) can be further programmed to receiveadditional brand preference information indicating that an additionalbrand of the plurality of brands has a preference for the firstconsumer-user; and display to the additional brand one or more dataobject representations relating to the subset of the first brandinformation. For example, preference is expressed as a following,listing friending, and/or liking a data object representation and/or aderivative data object representation. The preference can be a systemtracking preference selected from following and/or listing a data objectrepresentation and/or a derivative data object representation.

The processor of embodiment (2) can be further programmed to generate aderivative data object in response to the expression of a systemtracking preference for a data object representation by the firstconsumer-user, and associate the derivative data object in the systemwith the data object and the first consumer-user. The processor of thisembodiment can also be further programmed to generate a derivative dataobject in response to the expression of a system tracking preference fora data object representation by a first brand-user, and associate thederivative data object in the system with the data object and the firstbrand-user.

The system of embodiment (2) can also include a first brand-user and theprocessor is further programmed to display to the first brand-userinteraction data related to the plurality of consumer-users expressing apreference for the first brand information; display to the firstbrand-user the subset of data object representations displayed to thefirst consumer-user; receive subset preference information indicatingthat the first brand-user has expressed a preference for one or moredata object representations of the subset; and display to the firstbrand user interactions with the subset of data object representationsdisplayed to the first consumer-user and the first brand-user.

Still further, the processor of embodiment (2) can be further programmedto receive additional first brand information responsive to the firstbrand interaction data and/or the first brand comparative interactiondata, e.g., the additional first brand information comprises brandmedia, brand purchasing information, retail information, brandpromotional information, one or more brand-specific supporting documentsand information, one or more brand reviews, a brand rating, commercialitem media, commercial item purchasing information, commercial itemretail information, commercial item promotional information, one or moreitem-specific supporting documents and information, one or morecommercial item reviews, a commercial item rating, or combinationsthereof.

Embodiment (2)(a) is a subset of first brand information created by thesystem of embodiment (2). Embodiment (2)(b) is a subset of data objectrepresentations displayed to the first consumer-user by the system ofembodiment (2).

Embodiment (3): at least one computer-readable storage medium havinginstructions recorded thereon which, when executed by at least onecomputer, perform a method of exchanging brand information on a system,wherein the system has (i) a plurality of consumer-users including afirst consumer-user, and (ii) a plurality of brands including a firstbrand, the method comprising acts of: receiving first brand information;receiving first brand preference information indicating that the firstconsumer-user has expressed a preference for the first brandinformation; filtering the first brand information to create a subset offirst brand information that is provided to the first consumer-user;displaying to the first consumer-user one or more data objectrepresentations relating to the subset of the first brand information;receiving one or more first consumer-user interactions with the one ormore data object representations relating to the subset of first brandinformation; displaying to the first brand: interaction data relating tothe first brand and specific to one or more consumer-users; interactiondata related to the first brand aggregated for a plurality ofconsumer-users on the system; comparative interaction data from aplurality of customer-users related to the first brand relative to a oneor more other brands on the system; or combinations thereof.

The method of the at least one computer-readable storage medium ofEmbodiment (3) can further comprise: receiving additional brandinformation from a plurality of brands; receiving additional brandpreference information indicating that the first consumer-user hasexpressed a preference for an additional subset of the additional brandinformation; filtering the first brand information and the additionalbrand information to create one or more supplemental subsets ofadditional brand information that is provided to the firstconsumer-user; displaying to the first consumer-user one or more dataobject representations relating to the one or more supplemental subsetsof additional brand information; receiving one or more firstconsumer-user interactions with the one or more data objectrepresentations relating to the one or more supplemental subsets ofadditional brand information; and displaying to each of the additionalbrands: (i) interaction data relating to the one or more additionalbrands and specific to the one or more consumer-users expressing apreference for the one or more additional brand information; (ii)interaction data related to the one or more additional brands aggregatedfor a plurality of consumer-users on the system; (iii) comparativeinteraction data from a plurality of customer-users related to the oneor more additional brands relative to a one or more other brands on thesystem; or (iv) combinations thereof. Moreover, the method can alsoinclude displaying to the first consumer-user first brand informationnot previously displayed to the first consumer-user on the system.

The displaying step of the at least one computer readable storage mediumof embodiment (3) can also include displaying to one or more additionalconsumer-users one or more data object representations relating to thesubset of the first brand information, wherein the one or moreadditional consumer-users have a relationship with the firstconsumer-user.

The interaction data of embodiment (3) can comprise the number and/ordemographic information related to (i) one or more consumers-users ofthe plurality of consumer-users on the system, (ii) consumers-usersexpressing a preference for one or more interest categories, (iii) oneof more consumer-users of the plurality of consumer-users on the systemexpressing a preference for the first brand, (iv) one or moreconsumer-users on the system expressing a preference for the first brandcommercial item, (v) all consumer-users of the system, or (vi)combinations thereof.

The first consumer-user interactions with the subset of data objectrepresentations of embodiment (3) includes: viewing one or more dataobject representations of the subset, expressing a preference for one ormore data object representations of the subset, commenting on one ormore data object representations in the subset, commenting on one ormore derivative data object representations in the subset, participatingin a dialog regarding one or more data object representations in thesubset, offering an opinion regarding one or more data objectrepresentations of the subset, providing a rating for one or more dataobject representations of the subset, clicking through one or more dataobject representations of the subset to view additional details,clicking through one or more data object of the subset to view firstbrand-hosted information, participating in a survey regarding one ormore data object representations of the subset, requesting furtherinformation from the first brand regarding one or more data objectrepresentations of the subset, buying a commercial item displayed in oneor more data object representations of the subset from a third-partyretailer/reseller, buying a commercial item displayed in one or moredata object representations of the subset directly from the first brand,buying a commercial item displayed in one or more data objectrepresentations of the subset from an individual, participating in anauction regarding one or more data object representations of the subset,offering a commercial item displayed in one or more data objectrepresentations in the subset for free, loan, sale, lease, and/orrental, requesting to purchase a commercial item displayed in one ormore data object representations in the subset, requesting that adiscontinued commercial item displayed in one or more data objectrepresentations in the subset is re-introduced by the first brand and/oran authorized retailer/reseller thereof, suggesting to the first brandproduct ideas, improvements, and/or corrections regarding one or moredata object representations in the subset, or combinations thereof.

The interaction data of embodiment (3) can also include first brand dataobject representation-consumer clicks, first brand data objectrepresentation consumer impressions, first brand derivative data objectrepresentation consumer clicks, first brand derivative data objectrepresentation-system consumer impressions, total system-consumerclicks, system-consumer clicks per interest category, totalsystem-consumer impressions, system-consumer impressions per interestcategory, average interest category click through rate, interestcategory seasonal trend data, average conversion rate, or combinationsthereof.

Demographic information, as used in relation to embodiment (3),comprises gender, ethnicity, age, income, education, home ownership,location, employment status, shopping history, personal interests and/orhobbies, or combinations thereof.

Moreover, as used in embodiment (3), comparative interaction data forthe first brand relative to the plurality of brands on the system and/ora subset of the plurality of brands on the system comprises the numberand/or demographic information related to (i) one or moreconsumers-users of the plurality of consumer-users on the system, (ii)consumers-users expressing a preference for one or more interestcategories, (iii) one of more consumer-users of the plurality ofconsumer-users on the system expressing a preference for the firstbrand, (iv) one or more consumer-users on the system expressing apreference for the first brand commercial item, (v) all consumer-usersof the system, or (vi) combinations thereof. Still further, thecomparative interaction data can comprise first brand data objectrepresentation-consumer clicks, first brand data objectrepresentation-consumer impressions, first brand derivative data objectrepresentation consumer clicks, first brand derivative data objectrepresentation-consumer impressions, total system-consumer clicks,system-consumer clicks per interest category, total system-consumerimpressions, system-consumer impressions per interest category, averageinterest category click through rate, interest category seasonal trenddata, average conversion rate, or combinations thereof. In one exampleof embodiment (3), the comparative interaction data is collected over adefined time interval, e.g., wherein the defined time interval is a timeperiod in which the first brand and/or a first brand competitor hasparticipated in the system.

The comparative interaction data of embodiment (3) further comprisesbrand ranking data for the first brand in relation to the plurality ofbrands, e.g., the comparative interaction data further comprises brandranking data for the first brand in relation to one or more competitorbrands of the plurality of brands.

The first brand information of embodiment (3) comprises general brandinformation including information related to one or more brandtrademarks, one or more brand logos, one or more commercial item logos,brand description, interest categories associated with brand, brandmedia, brand purchasing information, retail information, brandpromotional information, information related brands within the brandportfolio, related brand description, related brand products, orcombinations thereof.

The brand description information of embodiment (3) comprises a brandimage, one or more brand-specific supporting documents and information,one or more brand reviews, a brand rating, or combinations thereof. Forexample, brand media includes a brand-specific video file, abrand-specific audio file, or print media; and brand-specific supportingdocuments and information comprises one or more literature references,reviews, blog link, press release, forum link, or combinations thereof.

The first brand information of embodiment (3) comprises first brandcommercial item information including information related to one or morecommercial item trademarks, commercial item description information,commercial item media, commercial item purchasing information,commercial item retail information, commercial item promotionalinformation, related first brand products, or combinations thereof. Forexample, commercial item description information comprises an itemimage, one or more item-specific supporting documents and information,one or more commercial item reviews, a commercial item rating, orcombinations thereof. Still further, commercial item media includes acommercial item-specific video file, a commercial item-specific audiofile, or print media; and commercial item-specific supporting documentsand information comprises one or more literature references, reviews,blog link, press release, forum link, or combinations thereof.

The first brand preference information of embodiment (3) includes systemtracking preference for the first brand information and the methodfurther comprises filtering the first brand information to create afirst supplemental subset of first brand information that is provided tothe first consumer-user expressing a system tracking preference for thefirst brand information; and displaying to the first consumer user oneor more derivative data object representations relating to the firstsupplemental subset of the first brand information, wherein the one ormore derivative data objects are associated in the system with the oneor more data objects.

The at least one computer-readable storage medium of embodiment (3)further comprises receiving first consumer-user preference informationindicating that an additional consumer-user has a system trackingpreference for the first consumer-user; filtering the first brandinformation to create a second supplemental subset of first brandinformation that is provided to the additional consumer-user expressinga system tracking preference for the first consumer-user; and displayingto the additional consumer-user one or more data object representationsand/or derivative data object representations relating to the secondsupplemental subset of the first brand information.

Moreover, the at least one computer-readable storage medium ofembodiment (3) further comprises receiving first consumer-userpreference information indicating that a first brand-user has a systemtracking preference for the first consumer-user; filtering the firstbrand information to create a third supplemental subset of first brandinformation that is provided to the first brand-user expressing a systemtracking preference for the first consumer-user; and displaying to thefirst brand-user one or more data object representations and/orderivative data object representations relating to the thirdsupplemental subset of the first brand information. The system trackingpreference of embodiment (3) can be expressed by following and/orlisting a data object and/or a derivative data object. The at least onecomputer-readable storage medium of embodiment (3) may further includereceiving additional brand preference information indicating that anadditional brand of the plurality of brands has a preference for thefirst consumer-user; and displaying to the additional brand one or moredata object representations relating to the subset of the first brandinformation. In this example, the preference is expressed as afollowing, listing, friending, and/or liking a data object and/or aderivative data object. In one specific example, the preference is asystem tracking preference selected from following and/or listing a dataobject and/or a derivative data object. Moreover, in another example,the expression of a system tracking preference for a data objectrepresentation by the first consumer-user generates a derivative dataobject based on the data object, wherein the derivative data object isassociated in the system with the data object, the first consumer-user,and the one or more additional consumer-users having a relationship withthe first consumer-user. In addition or alternative, the expression of asystem tracking preference for a data object representation by a firstbrand-user generates a derivative data object based on the data object,wherein the derivative data object is associated in the system with thedata object, a first brand-user, and one or more additionalconsumer-users and/or brand-users having a relationship with the firstbrand-user. For example, a modification to a data object generates amodification to all derivative data objects of the data object, e.g.,the modification includes an edit to one or more data object elements,an addition to the data object, deletion of one or more data objectelements, the addition of a comment regarding a data object, orcombinations thereof.

The system of the at least one computer-readable storage medium ofembodiment (3) includes a first brand-user and the method furthercomprises displaying to the first brand-user interaction data related tothe plurality of consumer-users expressing a preference for the firstbrand information; displaying to the first brand-user the subset of dataobject representations displayed to the first consumer-user; receivingsubset preference information indicating that the first brand-user hasexpressed a preference for one or more data object representations ofthe subset; and displaying to the first brand user interactions with thesubset of data object representations displayed to the firstconsumer-user and the first brand-user.

The at least one computer-readable storage medium of embodiment (3) canalso include receiving additional first brand information relating to(a) the general first brand information and/or the first brandcommercial item; and (b) responsive to the first brand interaction dataand/or the first brand comparative interaction data. For example, theadditional first brand information comprises brand media, brandpurchasing information, retail information, brand promotionalinformation, one or more brand-specific supporting documents andinformation, one or more brand reviews, a brand rating, commercial itemmedia, commercial item purchasing information, commercial item retailinformation, commercial item promotional information, one or moreitem-specific supporting documents and information, one or morecommercial item review s, a commercial item rating, or combinationsthereof.

Embodiment (3)(a): the subset of first brand information created by theat least one computer readable storage medium of embodiment (3).

Embodiment (3)(b): the subset of data object representations displayedto the first consumer-user by the at least one computer readable storagemedium of embodiment (3).

Embodiment (4): a method of exchanging information on a system having aplurality of consumer-users including a first consumer-user, the methodcomprising acts of: receiving information indicating that a firstconsumer-user has a preference for a commercial item and/or brand;receiving item and/or brand information, provided by at least some ofthe plurality of consumer-users and/or the brand relating to thecommercial item and/or brand; filtering the item and/or brandinformation to create a subset of the item and/or brand information thatis provided to the first consumer-user; and displaying to the firstconsumer user one or more data object representations relating to thesubset of the item and/or brand information.

The method of embodiment (4) may further include: receiving additionalbrand information from a plurality of brands; receiving additional brandpreference information indicating that the first consumer-user hasexpressed a preference for an additional subset of the additional brandinformation; filtering the first brand information and the additionalbrand information to create one or more supplemental subsets ofadditional brand information that is provided to the firstconsumer-user; displaying to the first consumer-user one or more dataobject representations relating to the one or more supplemental subsetsof additional brand information; receiving one or more firstconsumer-user interactions with the one or more data objectrepresentations relating to the one or more supplemental subsets ofadditional brand information; and displaying to each of the additionalbrands: (i) interaction data relating to the one or more additionalbrands and specific to the one or more consumer-users expressing apreference for the one or more additional brand information; (ii)interaction data related to the one or more additional brands aggregatedfor a plurality of consumer-users on the system; (iii) comparativeinteraction data from a plurality of customer-users related to the oneor more additional brands relative to a one or more other brands on thesystem; or (iv) combinations thereof.

Moreover, the method of embodiment (4) can further include displaying tothe first consumer-user first brand information not previously displayedto the first consumer-user on the system. The displaying step (d) inthis embodiment can also include displaying to one or more additionalconsumer-users one or more data object representations relating to thesubset of the first brand information, wherein the one or moreadditional consumer-users have a relationship with the firstconsumer-user.

Embodiment (4) can also include receiving additional informationrelating to the commercial item and/or brand; filtering the additionalitem and/or brand information to create an additional subset of theadditional item and/or brand information that is provided toconsumer-users included in the group of consumer-users having aninterest in the commercial item and/or brand; and displaying to thefirst consumer-user one or more derivative data object representationsrelating to the additional subset of additional item and/or brandinformation.

In embodiment (4), the one or more data object representations can bedisplayed in an order based at least in part on an order in which itemand/or brand information is received from consumer-users in the group ofconsumer-users having a relationship with the first consumer-user.Alternatively or additionally, the one or more data objectrepresentations can be displayed in an order based at least in part onan order in which information indicating that the first consumer-userhas an interest in a corresponding one or more commercial items and/orbrands is received. Still further, a separate data object for eachcommercial item and/or brand selected by the first consumer-user isdisplayed in embodiment (4).

Embodiment (4)(a): the subset of first brand information created by themethod of embodiment (4).

Embodiment (4)(b): the subset of data object representations displayedto the first consumer-user by the method of embodiment (4).

Embodiment (5): a system, comprising at least one processor, programmedto: receive information indicating that the first consumer-user has aninterest in a commercial item and/or brand; receive item and/or brandinformation, provided by at least some of the plurality ofconsumer-users, relating to the commercial item and/or brand; filter theitem and/or brand information to create a subset of the item and/orbrand information that is provided by the first consumer-user; anddisplay to the first consumer-user one or more data objectrepresentations relating to the subset of the item and/or brandinformation.

The system of embodiment (5) wherein the processor can be furtherprogrammed to receive additional brand information from a plurality ofbrands; receive additional brand preference information indicating thatthe first consumer-user has expressed a preference for an additionalsubset of the additional brand information; filter the first brandinformation and the additional brand information to create one or moresupplemental subsets of additional brand information that is provided tothe first consumer-user; display to the first consumer-user one or moredata object representations relating to the one or more supplementalsubsets of additional brand information; receive one or more firstconsumer-user interactions with the one or more data objectrepresentations relating to the one or more supplemental subsets ofadditional brand information; and display to each of the additionalbrands: (i) interaction data relating to the one or more additionalbrands and specific to the one or more consumer-users expressing apreference for the one or more additional brand information; (ii)interaction data related to the one or more additional brands aggregatedfor a plurality of consumer-users on the system; (iii) comparativeinteraction data from a plurality of customer-users related to the oneor more additional brands relative to a one or more other brands on thesystem; or (iv) combinations thereof. The processor can also beprogrammed to display to the first consumer-user first brand informationnot previously displayed to the first consumer-user on the system.

The system of embodiment (5) wherein the processor can be furtherprogrammed to display, to one or more additional consumer-users, one ormore data object representations relating to the subset of the firstbrand information, wherein the one or more additional consumer-usershave a relationship with the first consumer-user.

The processor of embodiment (5) can be further programmed to receiveadditional information relating to the commercial item and/or brandprovided by at least some of the plurality of consumer-users relating tothe commercial item and/or brand; filter the additional item and/orbrand information to create an additional subset of the additional itemand/or brand information that is provided to consumer-users included inthe group of consumer-users having a relationship with the firstconsumer-user; and display to the first consumer-user one or morederivative data object representations relating to the additional subsetof additional item and/or brand information.

The one or more derivative data objects of embodiment (5) can beassociated in the system with the one or more data objects.

The processor of embodiment (5) can be programmed to display the one ormore data object representations in an order which is based at least inpart on an order in which item information is received fromconsumer-users in the group of consumer-users having a relationship withthe first consumer-user. Additionally or alternatively, the processorcan be programmed to display the one or more data object representationsin an order which is based at least in part on an order in whichinformation indicating that the first consumer-user has an interest in acorresponding one or more commercial items is received. In a specificexample of embodiment (5), the processor is programmed to display aseparate data object for each commercial item selected by the firstconsumer-user.

Embodiment (5)(a): a subset of first brand information created by thesystem of embodiment (5).

Embodiment (5)(b): a subset of data object representations displayed tothe first consumer-user by the system of embodiment (5).

Embodiment (6): at least one computer-readable storage medium havinginstructions recorded thereon which, when executed by at least onecomputer, perform a method for use in a system having a plurality ofconsumer-users including a first consumer-user, the method comprisingacts of: receiving information indicating that a first consumer-user hasa preference for a commercial item and/or brand; receiving item and/orbrand information, provided by at least some of the plurality ofconsumer-users and/or the brand relating to the commercial item and/orbrand; filtering the item and/or brand information to create a subset ofthe item and/or brand information that is provided to the firstconsumer-user; and displaying to the first consumer user one or moredata object representations relating to the subset of the item and/orbrand information.

The method carried out by the at least one computer-readable storagemedium of embodiment (6) may further include: receiving additional brandinformation from a plurality of brands; receiving additional brandpreference information indicating that the first consumer-user hasexpressed a preference for an additional subset of the additional brandinformation; filtering the first brand information and the additionalbrand information to create one or more supplemental subsets ofadditional brand information that is provided to the firstconsumer-user; displaying to the first consumer-user one or more dataobject representations relating to the one or more supplemental subsetsof additional brand information; receiving one or more firstconsumer-user interactions with the one or more data objectrepresentations relating to the one or more supplemental subsets ofadditional brand information; and displaying to each of the additionalbrands: (i) interaction data relating to the one or more additionalbrands and specific to the one or more consumer-users expressing apreference for the one or more additional brand information; (ii)interaction data related to the one or more additional brands aggregatedfor a plurality of consumer-users on the system; (iii) comparativeinteraction data from a plurality of customer-users related to the oneor more additional brands relative to a one or more other brands on thesystem; or (iv) combinations thereof. Optionally, the method furthercomprises displaying to the first consumer-user first brand informationnot previously displayed to the first consumer-user on the system.

The displaying step of embodiment (6) can also include displaying to oneor more additional consumer-users one or more data objectrepresentations relating to the subset of the first brand information,wherein the one or more additional consumer-users have a relationshipwith the first consumer-user. Moreover, embodiment (6) can furthercomprise receiving additional information relating to the commercialitem and/or brand provided by at least some of the plurality ofconsumer-users relating to the commercial item and/or brand; filteringthe additional item and/or brand information to create an additionalsubset of the additional item and/or brand information that is providedto consumer-users included in the group of consumer-users having arelationship with the first consumer-user; and displaying to the firstconsumer-user one or more derivative data object representationsrelating to the subset of additional item and/or brand information.

The at least one computer-readable storage medium of embodiment (6) canfurther include displaying the one or more data object representationsin an order based at least in part on an order in which item informationis received from consumer-users in the group of users having arelationship with the first consumer-users; displaying the one or moredata object representations in an order based at least in part on anorder in which information indicating that the first consumer-user hasan interest in a corresponding one or more commercial items is received;or displaying a separate data object for each commercial item selectedby the first consumer-user.

Embodiment (6)(a): a subset of first brand information created by the atleast one computer-readable storage medium of embodiment (6).

Embodiment (6)(b): a subset of data object representations displayed tothe first consumer-user by the at least one computer-readable storagemedium of embodiment (6).

Embodiment (7): a method of exchanging information on a system between afirst brand and a first consumer-user, the system comprising (a) aplurality of consumer-users including the first consumer-user, and (b) aplurality of brands including the first brand, wherein the system isconfigured to receive, filter, and/or display information related to thefirst consumer-user, the first brand, the plurality of consumer-users,the plurality of brands, a commercial item, interaction data,comparative interaction data and combinations thereof; the methodcomprising acts of: viewing, by the first brand, interaction datarelated to the plurality of consumer-users expressing a preference forfirst brand information; and providing additional first brandinformation responsive to the first brand interaction data.

The method of embodiment (7) can also include viewing, by the firstbrand, brand comparative interaction data for the first brand relativeto the plurality of brands on the system and/or a subset of theplurality of brands on the system; and providing additional first brandinformation relating to (i) the general first brand information and/orthe first brand commercial item; and (ii) responsive to the first brandinteraction data and/or the first brand comparative interaction data.Optionally, prior to viewing step (a), the method can also includeproviding, by the first brand, first brand information relating togeneral first brand information and/or the first brand commercial item.

The interaction data of embodiment (7) can include the number and/ordemographic information related to (i) one or more consumers-users ofthe plurality of consumer-users on the system, (ii) consumers-usersexpressing a preference for one or more interest categories, (iii) oneof more consumer-users of the plurality of consumer-users on the systemexpressing a preference for the first brand, (iv) one or moreconsumer-users on the system expressing a preference for the first brandcommercial item, (v) all consumer-users of the system, or (vi)combinations thereof.

In embodiment (7), the one or more first consumer-user interactions withthe subset of data object representations can include: viewing one ormore data object representations of the subset, expressing a preferencefor one or more data object representations of the subset, commenting onone or more data object representations in the subset, commenting on oneor more derivative data object representations in the subset,participating in a dialog regarding one or more data objectrepresentations in the subset, offering an opinion regarding one or moredata object representations of the subset, providing a rating for one ormore data object representations of the subset, clicking through one ormore data object representations of the subset to view additionaldetails, clicking through one or more data object of the subset to viewfirst brand-hosted information, participating in a survey regarding oneor more data object representations of the subset, requesting furtherinformation from the first brand regarding one or more data objectrepresentations of the subset, buying a commercial item displayed in oneor more data object representations of the subset from a third-partyretailer/reseller, buying a commercial item displayed in one or moredata object representations of the subset directly from the first brand,buying a commercial item displayed in one or more data objectrepresentations of the subset from an individual, participating in anauction regarding one or more data object representations of the subset,offering a commercial item displayed in one or more data objectrepresentations in the subset for free, loan, sale, lease, and/orrental, requesting to purchase a commercial item displayed in one ormore data object representations in the subset, requesting that adiscontinued commercial item displayed in one or more data objectrepresentations in the subset is re-introduced by the first brand and/oran authorized retailer/reseller thereof, suggesting to the first brandproduct ideas, improvements, and/or corrections regarding one or moredata objects in the subset, or combinations thereof.

The interaction data of embodiment (7) can comprise first brand dataobject-consumer clicks, first brand data object consumer impressions,first brand derivative data object consumer clicks, first brandderivative data object-system consumer impressions, totalsystem-consumer clicks, system-consumer clicks per interest category,total system-consumer impressions, system-consumer impressions perinterest category, average interest category click through rate,interest category seasonal trend data, average conversion rate, orcombinations thereof.

As used in embodiment (7), demographic information comprises gender,ethnicity, age, income, education, home ownership, location, employmentstatus, shopping history, personal interests and/or hobbies, orcombinations thereof; comparative interaction data for the first brandrelative to the plurality of brands on the system and/or a subset of theplurality of brands on the system comprises the number and/ordemographic information related to (i) one or more consumers-users ofthe plurality of consumer-users on the system, (ii) consumers-usersexpressing a preference for one or more interest categories, (iii) oneof more consumer-users of the plurality of consumer-users on the systemexpressing a preference for the first brand, (iv) one or moreconsumer-users on the system expressing a preference for the first brandcommercial item, (v) all consumer-users of the system, or (vi)combinations thereof; comparative interaction data comprises first branddata object representation-consumer clicks, first brand data objectrepresentation-consumer impressions, first brand derivative data objectrepresentation consumer clicks, first brand derivative data objectrepresentation-consumer impressions, total system-consumer clicks,system-consumer clicks per interest category, total system-consumerimpressions, system-consumer impressions per interest category, averageinterest category click through rate, interest category seasonal trenddata, average conversion rate, or combinations thereof. Comparativeinteraction data can be collected over a defined time interval, e.g.,wherein the defined time interval is a time period in which the firstbrand and/or a first brand competitor has participated in the system.

The comparative interaction data of embodiment (7) can also includebrand ranking data for the first brand in relation to the plurality ofbrands, e.g., the comparative interaction data further comprises brandranking data for the first brand in relation to one or more competitorbrands of the plurality of brands.

The first brand information of embodiment (7) can include general brandinformation including information related to one or more brandtrademarks, one or more brand logos, one or more commercial item logos,brand description, interest categories associated with brand, brandmedia, brand purchasing information, retail information, brandpromotional information, information related brands within the brandportfolio, related brand description, related brand products, orcombinations thereof. In a specific example, brand descriptioninformation comprises a brand image, one or more brand-specificsupporting documents and information, one or more brand reviews, a brandrating, or combinations thereof; brand media includes a brand-specificvideo file, a brand-specific audio file, or print media; and/orbrand-specific supporting documents and information comprises one ormore literature references, reviews, blog link, press release, forumlink, or combinations thereof.

The first brand information of embodiment (7) can include first brandcommercial item information including information related to one or morecommercial item trademarks, commercial item description information,commercial item media, commercial item purchasing information,commercial item retail information, commercial item promotionalinformation, related first brand products, or combinations thereof. Thecommercial item description information comprises an item image, one ormore item-specific supporting documents and information, one or morecommercial item reviews, a commercial item rating, or combinationsthereof; commercial item media includes a commercial item-specific videofile, a commercial item-specific audio file, or print media; commercialitem-specific supporting documents and information comprises one or moreliterature references, reviews, blog link, press release, forum link, orcombinations thereof.

The preference of embodiment (7) can be expressed as a following,friending, and/or liking a data object representation and/or aderivative data object representation. For example, the preference is asystem tracking preference selected from following and/or listing a dataobject representation and/or a derivative data object representation.The expression of a system tracking preference for a data objectrepresentation by the first consumer-user generates a derivative dataobject based on the data object, wherein the derivative data object isassociated in the system with the data object, the first consumer-user,and the one or more additional consumer-users having a relationship withthe first consumer-user. Alternatively or additionally, the expressionof a system tracking preference for a data object representation by afirst brand-user generates a derivative data object based on the dataobject, wherein the derivative data object is associated in the systemwith the data object, a first brand-user, and one or more additionalconsumer-users and/or brand-users having a relationship with the firstbrand-user.

The method of embodiment (7) can include a modification to a data objectgenerates a modification to all derivative data objects of the dataobject. For example, the modification includes an edit to one or moredata object elements, an addition to the data object, deletion of one ormore data object elements, the addition of a comment regarding a dataobject, or combinations thereof.

The additional first brand information of embodiment (7) can includebrand media, brand purchasing information, retail information, brandpromotional information, one or more brand-specific supporting documentsand information, one or more brand reviews, a brand rating, commercialitem media, commercial item purchasing information, commercial itemretail information, commercial item promotional information, one or moreitem-specific supporting documents and information, one or morecommercial item reviews, a commercial item rating, or combinationsthereof.

Embodiment (8): a method of exchanging information on a system between afirst brand and a first consumer-user, the system comprising (a) aplurality of consumer-users including the first consumer-user, and (b) aplurality of brands including the first brand, wherein the system isconfigured to receive, filter, and/or display information related to thefirst consumer-user, the first brand, the plurality of consumer-users,the plurality of brands, a commercial item, interaction data,comparative interaction data and combinations thereof; the methodcomprising acts of: viewing, by the first consumer-user, first brandinformation; expressing a preference for the first brand information;and viewing, by the first consumer-user, a subset of first brandinformation that is provided by the system to the first consumer-user.

The first brand information of embodiment (8) can include general brandinformation including information related to one or more brandtrademarks, one or more brand logos, one or more commercial item logos,brand description, interest categories associated with brand, brandmedia, brand purchasing information, retail information, brandpromotional information, information related brands within the brandportfolio, related brand description, related brand products, orcombinations thereof. For example, brand description informationcomprises a brand image, one or more brand-specific supporting documentsand information, one or more brand reviews, a brand rating, orcombinations thereof; brand media includes a brand-specific video file,a brand-specific audio file, or print media; and brand-specificsupporting documents and information comprises one or more literaturereferences, reviews, blog link, press release, forum link, orcombinations thereof.

In a specific example of embodiment (8), the first brand informationcomprises first brand commercial item information including informationrelated to one or more commercial item trademarks, commercial itemdescription information, commercial item media, commercial itempurchasing information, commercial item retail information, commercialitem promotional information, related first brand products, orcombinations thereof. For example, the commercial item descriptioninformation comprises an item image, one or more item-specificsupporting documents and information, one or more commercial itemreviews, a commercial item rating, or combinations thereof; thecommercial item media includes a commercial item-specific video file, acommercial item-specific audio file, or print media; and/or thecommercial item-specific supporting documents and information comprisesone or more literature references, reviews, blog link, press release,forum link, or combinations thereof. In a specific example, a preferenceis expressed as a following, friending, and/or liking a data objectand/or a derivative data object, e.g., a system tracking preferenceselected from following and/or listing a data object and/or a derivativedata object.

Example (9): a method of exchanging information on a system between afirst consumer-user and one or more additional consumer-users, thesystem comprising (a) a plurality of consumer-users including the firstconsumer-user and the one or more additional consumer-users, wherein thefirst and one or more additional consumer-users are connected in thesystem, and (b) a plurality of brands including the first brand, whereinthe system is configured to receive, filter, and/or display informationrelated to the first consumer-user, the first brand, the plurality ofconsumer-users, the plurality of brands, a commercial item, interactiondata, comparative interaction data and combinations thereof; the methodcomprising acts of: viewing, by the first consumer-user, a subset offirst brand information that is provided by the system to the firstconsumer-user and the one or more additional consumer-users; andviewing, by the first consumer-user, an interaction with the subset offirst brand information comprising: (i) a preference expressed by thefirst consumer-user and/or the one or more additional consumer-users,wherein the preference is for one or more members of the subset of firstbrand information; (ii) a comment provided by the first consumer-userand/or the one or more additional consumer-users, wherein the commentrelates to one or more members of the subset of first brand information,wherein the comment is provided by the first consumer-user and/or theone or more additional consumer-users; or (iii) combinations thereof.

In embodiment (9), the interaction with the subset can include: viewingone or more data object representations of the subset, expressing apreference for one or more data object representations of the subset,commenting on one or more data object representations in the subset,commenting on one or more derivative data object representations in thesubset, participating in a dialog regarding one or more data objectrepresentations in the subset, offering an opinion regarding one or moredata object representations of the subset, providing a rating for one ormore data object representations of the subset, clicking through one ormore data object representations of the subset to view additionaldetails, clicking through one or more data object of the subset to viewfirst brand-hosted information, participating in a survey regarding oneor more data object representations of the subset, requesting furtherinformation from the first brand regarding one or more data objectrepresentations of the subset, buying a commercial item displayed in oneor more data object representations of the subset from a third-partyretailer/reseller, buying a commercial item displayed in one or moredata object representations of the subset directly from the first brand,buying a commercial item displayed in one or more data objectrepresentations of the subset from an individual, participating in anauction regarding one or more data object representations of the subset,offering a commercial item displayed in one or more data objectrepresentations in the subset for free, loan, sale, lease, and/orrental, requesting to purchase a commercial item displayed in one ormore data object representations in the subset, requesting that adiscontinued commercial item displayed in one or more data objectrepresentations in the subset is re-introduced by the first brand and/oran authorized retailer/reseller thereof, suggesting to the first brandproduct ideas, improvements, and/or corrections regarding one or moredata objects in the subset, or combinations thereof.

The first brand information of embodiment (9) can include general brandinformation including information related to one or more brandtrademarks, one or more brand logos, one or more commercial item logos,brand description, interest categories associated with brand, brandmedia, brand purchasing information, retail information, brandpromotional information, information related brands within the brandportfolio, related brand description, related brand products, orcombinations thereof; brand description information comprises a brandimage, one or more brand-specific supporting documents and information,one or more brand reviews, a brand rating, or combinations thereof;brand media includes a brand-specific video file, a brand-specific audiofile, or print media; and/or brand-specific supporting documents andinformation comprises one or more literature references, reviews, bloglink, press release, forum link, or combinations thereof.

The first brand information of embodiment (9) can also include firstbrand commercial item information including information related to oneor more commercial item trademarks, commercial item descriptioninformation, commercial item media, commercial item purchasinginformation, commercial item retail information, commercial itempromotional information, related first brand products, or combinationsthereof; commercial item description information comprises an itemimage, one or more item-specific supporting documents and information,one or more commercial item reviews, a commercial item rating, orcombinations thereof; commercial item media includes a commercialitem-specific video file, a commercial item-specific audio file, orprint media; and/or the commercial item-specific supporting documentsand information comprises one or more literature references, reviews,blog link, press release, forum link, or combinations thereof.

Embodiment (10): a method of exchanging brand information on a system,wherein the system has (i) a plurality of consumer-users including afirst consumer-user and one or more additional consumer-users, and (ii)a plurality of brands including a first brand, the method comprisingacts of: receiving first brand information; receiving first brandpreference information indicating that the first consumer-user hasexpressed a preference for the first brand information; filtering thefirst brand information to create a subset of first brand informationthat is provided to the first consumer-user, wherein the subsetcomprises first brand information not previously displayed to the firstconsumer-user on the system; displaying to the first consumer-user oneor more data object representations relating to the subset of the firstbrand information; receiving one or more first consumer-userinteractions with the one or more data object representations relatingto the subset of first brand information; displaying to the first brand:interaction data relating to the first brand and specific to one or moreconsumer-users; interaction data related to the first brand aggregatedfor a plurality of consumer-users on the system; comparative interactiondata from a plurality of customer-users related to the first brandrelative to a one or more other brands on the system; or combinationsthereof.

The method of embodiment (10) can further include: receiving additionalbrand information from a plurality of brands; receiving additional brandpreference information indicating that the first consumer-user hasexpressed a preference for an additional subset of the additional brandinformation; filtering the first brand information and the additionalbrand information to create one or more supplemental subsets ofadditional brand information that is provided to the firstconsumer-user; displaying to the first consumer-user one or more dataobject representations relating to the one or more supplemental subsetsof additional brand information; receiving one or more firstconsumer-user interactions with the one or more data objectrepresentations relating to the one or more supplemental subsets ofadditional brand information; and displaying to each of the additionalbrands: (i) interaction data relating to the one or more additionalbrands and specific to the one or more consumer-users expressing apreference for the one or more additional brand information; (ii)interaction data related to the one or more additional brands aggregatedfor a plurality of consumer-users on the system; (iii) comparativeinteraction data from a plurality of customer-users related to the oneor more additional brands relative to a one or more other brands on thesystem; or (iv) combinations thereof.

The method of embodiment (10) can further include displaying to thefirst consumer-user first brand information not previously displayed tothe first consumer-user on the system. In addition, the displaying stepof embodiment (10) can also include displaying to one or more additionalconsumer-users one or more data object representations relating to thesubset of the first brand information, wherein the one or moreadditional consumer-users have a relationship with the firstconsumer-user.

The interaction data of embodiment (10) can include the number and/ordemographic information related to (i) one or more consumers-users ofthe plurality of consumer-users on the system, (ii) consumers-usersexpressing a preference for one or more interest categories, (iii) oneof more consumer-users of the plurality of consumer-users on the systemexpressing a preference for the first brand, (iv) one or moreconsumer-users on the system expressing a preference for the first brandcommercial item, (v) all consumer-users of the system, or (vi)combinations thereof.

In embodiment (10), the one or more first consumer-user interactionswith the subset of data object representations can include: viewing oneor more data object representations of the subset, expressing apreference for one or more data object representations of the subset,commenting on one or more data object representations in the subset,commenting on one or more derivative data object representations in thesubset, participating in a dialog regarding one or more data objectrepresentations in the subset, offering an opinion regarding one or moredata object representations of the subset, providing a rating for one ormore data object representations of the subset, clicking through one ormore data object representations of the subset to view additionaldetails, clicking through one or more data object of the subset to viewfirst brand-hosted information, participating in a survey regarding oneor more data object representations of the subset, requesting furtherinformation from the first brand regarding one or more data objectrepresentations of the subset, buying a commercial item displayed in oneor more data object representations of the subset from a third-partyretailer/reseller, buying a commercial item displayed in one or moredata object representations of the subset directly from the first brand,buying a commercial item displayed in one or more data objectrepresentations of the subset from an individual, participating in anauction regarding one or more data object representations of the subset,offering a commercial item displayed in one or more data objectrepresentations in the subset for free, loan, sale, lease, and/orrental, requesting to purchase a commercial item displayed in one ormore data object representations in the subset, requesting that adiscontinued commercial item displayed in one or more data objectrepresentations in the subset is re-introduced by the first brand and/oran authorized retailer/reseller thereof, suggesting to the first brandproduct ideas, improvements, and/or corrections regarding one or moredata object representations in the subset, or combinations thereof. Inone specific example, the interaction data includes first brand dataobject-consumer clicks, first brand data object consumer impressions,first brand derivative data object consumer clicks, first brandderivative data object-system consumer impressions, totalsystem-consumer clicks, system-consumer clicks per interest category,total system-consumer impressions, system-consumer impressions perinterest category, average interest category click through rate,interest category seasonal trend data, average conversion rate, orcombinations thereof.

As used in embodiment (10), demographic information comprises gender,ethnicity, age, income, education, home ownership, location, employmentstatus, shopping history, personal interests and/or hobbies, orcombinations thereof.

The comparative interaction data of embodiment (10) can include thenumber and/or demographic information related to (i) one or moreconsumers-users of the plurality of consumer-users on the system, (ii)consumers-users expressing a preference for one or more interestcategories, (iii) one of more consumer-users of the plurality ofconsumer-users on the system expressing a preference for the firstbrand, (iv) one or more consumer-users on the system expressing apreference for the first brand commercial item, (v) all consumer-usersof the system, or (vi) combinations thereof. For example, thecomparative interaction data comprises first brand data objectrepresentation-consumer clicks, first brand data objectrepresentation-consumer impressions, first brand derivative data objectrepresentation consumer clicks, first brand derivative data objectrepresentation-consumer impressions, total system-consumer clicks,system-consumer clicks per interest category, total system-consumerimpressions, system-consumer impressions per interest category, averageinterest category click through rate, interest category seasonal trenddata, average conversion rate, or combinations thereof. In one example,the comparative interaction data is collected over a defined timeinterval, e.g., the defined time interval is a time period in which thefirst brand and/or a first brand competitor has participated in thesystem. In an additional example, the comparative interaction datafurther comprises brand ranking data for the first brand in relation tothe plurality of brands, e.g., comparative interaction data furthercomprises brand ranking data for the first brand in relation to one ormore competitor brands of the plurality of brands.

The first brand information of embodiment (10) can comprise generalbrand information including information related to one or more brandtrademarks, one or more brand logos, one or more commercial item logos,brand description, interest categories associated with brand, brandmedia, brand purchasing information, retail information, brandpromotional information, information related brands within the brandportfolio, related brand description, related brand products, orcombinations thereof. The brand description information can include abrand image, one or more brand-specific supporting documents andinformation, one or more brand reviews, a brand rating, or combinationsthereof; the brand media includes a brand-specific video file, abrand-specific audio file, or print media; and/or the brand-specificsupporting documents and information comprises one or more literaturereferences, reviews, blog link, press release, forum link, orcombinations thereof. Moreover, the first brand information can includefirst brand commercial item information including information related toone or more commercial item trademarks, commercial item descriptioninformation, commercial item media, commercial item purchasinginformation, commercial item retail information, commercial itempromotional information, related first brand products, or combinationsthereof. For example, the commercial item description informationcomprises an item image, one or more item-specific supporting documentsand information, one or more commercial item reviews, a commercial itemrating, or combinations thereof; the commercial item media includes acommercial item-specific video file, a commercial item-specific audiofile, or print media; the commercial item-specific supporting documentsand information comprises one or more literature references, reviews,blog link, press release, forum link, or combinations thereof.

The first brand preference information of embodiment (10) can includesystem tracking preference for the first brand information and themethod further comprises filtering the first brand information to createa first supplemental subset of first brand information that is providedto the first consumer-user expressing a system tracking preference forthe first brand information; and displaying to the first consumer userone or more derivative data object representations relating to the firstsupplemental subset of the first brand information, wherein the one ormore derivative data object representations are associated in the systemwith the one or more data object representations.

The method of embodiment (10) can further comprise receiving firstconsumer-user preference information indicating that an additionalconsumer-user has a system tracking preference for the firstconsumer-user; filtering the first brand information to create a secondsupplemental subset of first brand information that is provided to theadditional consumer-user expressing a system tracking preference for thefirst consumer-user; and displaying to the additional consumer-user oneor more data object representations and/or derivative data objectrepresentations relating to the second supplemental subset of the firstbrand information. The method of embodiment (10) can also includereceiving first consumer-user preference information indicating that afirst brand-user has a system tracking preference for the firstconsumer-user; filtering the first brand information to create a thirdsupplemental subset of first brand information that is provided to thefirst brand-user expressing a system tracking preference for the firstconsumer-user; and displaying to the first brand-user one or more dataobject representations and/or derivative data object representationsrelating to the third supplemental subset of the first brandinformation. The system tracking preference of embodiment (10) can beexpressed by following and/or listing a data object and/or a derivativedata object.

The method of embodiment (10) can include receiving additional brandpreference information indicating that an additional brand of theplurality of brands has a preference for the first consumer-user; anddisplaying to the additional brand one or more data objectrepresentations relating to the subset of the first brand information.

A preference in embodiment (10) can be expressed as a following,listing, friending, and/or liking a data object representation and/or aderivative data object representation. For example, the preference canbe a system tracking preference selected from following and/or listing adata object representation and/or a derivative data objectrepresentation. The expression of a system tracking preference for adata object representation by the first consumer-user can generate aderivative data object based on the data object, wherein the derivativedata object is associated in the system with the data object and thefirst consumer-user. Additionally or alternatively, the expression of asystem tracking preference for a data object representation by a firstbrand-user can generate a derivative data object based on the dataobject, wherein the derivative data object is associated in the systemwith the data object and the first brand-user.

The method of embodiment (10) can include a modification to a dataobject that generates a modification to all derivative data objects ofthe data object. For example, the modification includes an edit to oneor more data object elements, an addition to the data object, deletionof one or more data object elements, the addition of a comment regardinga data object, or combinations thereof.

The system in embodiment (10) can include a first brand-user and themethod further comprises displaying to the first brand-user interactiondata related to the plurality of consumer-users expressing a preferencefor the first brand information; displaying to the first brand-user thesubset of data object representations displayed to the firstconsumer-user; receiving subset preference information indicating thatthe first brand-user has expressed a preference for one or more dataobject representations of the subset;

and displaying to the first brand user interactions with the subset ofdata object representations displayed to the first consumer-user and thefirst brand-user.

The method of embodiment (10) can also include receiving additionalfirst brand information responsive to the first brand interaction dataand/or the first brand comparative interaction data. For example, theadditional first brand information comprises brand media, brandpurchasing information, retail information, brand promotionalinformation, one or more brand-specific supporting documents andinformation, one or more brand reviews, a brand rating, commercial itemmedia, commercial item purchasing information, commercial item retailinformation, commercial item promotional information, one or moreitem-specific supporting documents and information, one or morecommercial item reviews, a commercial item rating, or combinationsthereof.

Embodiment (10)(a): a subset of first brand information created by themethod of embodiment (10).

Embodiment (10)(b): a subset of data object representations displayed tothe first consumer-user by the method of embodiment (10).

Embodiment (10)(c): a system comprising a processor programmed topractice the method of embodiment (10).

Embodiment (10)(d): at least one computer-readable storage medium havinginstructions recorded thereon which, when executed by at least onecomputer, perform a method of any one of embodiment (10).

Embodiment (11): a method of or employed by a system and/or computerreadable medium of any one of the previous embodiments embodiment inwhich the subset identifies the first brand information not previouslydisplayed to the first consumer-user.

Embodiment (12): a system of any one of the previous embodiments,wherein said subset identifies the first brand information notpreviously displayed to the first consumer-user.

Embodiment (13): at least one computer readable medium of any one of theprevious embodiments wherein said subset identifies the first brandinformation not previously displayed to the first consumer-user.

Embodiment (14): a computer system comprising: a plurality of userdevices each having a display interface available to a user; a pluralityof item providers; a global database of data objects, each data objectcomprising a unique object identifier of that object and a user, item,or provider identifier of a user, item or provider to which that objectrelates, the data objects including a user association data objectcomprising a target user identifier of a target user and a follower useridentifier of a user following the target user, wherein the globaldatabase is configured responsive to the target user expressing atracking interest in a data object representation by instigating atracking instruction at their user device to create an associationbetween the target user identifier and the data object representation;

-   -   a global tracking database configured responsive to the target        user expressing the tracking interest in the data object to        store the association; and    -   an information exchange computer configured, responsive to the        target user expressing the tracking interest in the data object        to access the global database and the global tracking database        and to display the data object representation to the follower        user via the display interface of their user device.

Embodiment (15): a computer implemented method of selecting data objectsfor interaction with a user at a graphical user interface, the methodcomprising:

-   -   receiving a data stream from an item provider, the data stream        identifying items available from the item provider;    -   storing a data object in a global database with a provider        identifier uniquely identifying the item provider;    -   storing for each item in the data stream a data object with an        item identifier uniquely identifying the item;    -   detecting a user interaction at a graphical user interface of a        user device, the interaction with an item or item provider data        object representation, and associating the data object with a        user identifier uniquely identifying the user;    -   storing in a tracking database the association between the data        object and the user identifier; and    -   using the tracking database to select a customized data set of        data objects based on the associations in the tracking database,        the customized data set being for presentation at the graphical        user interface.

Embodiment (16): a computer system comprising:

-   -   a plurality of user devices each having a display interface        available to a user;    -   a plurality of item providers;    -   a global database of data objects, each data object comprising a        unique object identifier of that object and a user, item, or        provider identifier of a user, item or provider to which that        object relates, the data objects including a user association        data object comprising a target user identifier of a target user        and a follower user identifier of a user following the target        user, wherein the global database is configured responsive to        the target user initiating a conversation regarding a data        object representation by instigating a conversation instruction        at their user device to create a new conversation data object        based on that data object;    -   a global tracking database configured responsive to the target        user initiating the conversation regarding the data object        representation to store an association between the user        identifier of the target user, the object identifier of that        data object, and the object identifier of the created        conversation data object; and    -   an information exchange computer configured, responsive to the        target user initiating the conversation regarding the data        object representation to access the global database and the        global tracking database and to display the conversation data        object representation to the follower user via the display        interface of their user device.

Embodiment (17): a computer implemented method of selecting data objectsfor interaction with a user at a graphical user interface, the methodcomprising:

receiving a data stream from an item provider, the data streamidentifying items available from the item provider;

-   -   storing a data object in a global database with a provider        identifier uniquely identifying the item provider;

storing for each item in the data stream a data object with an itemidentifier uniquely identifying the item;

detecting a user interaction at a graphical user interface of a userdevice, the interaction with an item or item provider data objectrepresentation and comprising initiating a conversation regarding thedata object representation, and creating a conversation data object witha conversation identifier uniquely identifying the user and the item oritem provider represented by the data object representation;

creating in a tracking database an association between the conversationdata object, the user and the item and/or item provider data object; and

using the tracking database to select a customised data set of dataobjects based on the associations in the tracking database, thecustomised data set being for presentation at the graphical userinterface.

Embodiment (18): a method of exchanging information on a system betweena first consumer-user and one or more additional consumer-users, thesystem comprising (a) a plurality of consumer-users including the firstconsumer-user and the one or more additional consumer-users, wherein thefirst and one or more additional consumer-users are connected in thesystem, and (b) a plurality of brands including the first brand, whereinthe system is configured to receive, filter, and/or display informationrelated to the first consumer-user, the first brand, the plurality ofconsumer-users, the plurality of brands, a commercial item, interactiondata, comparative interaction data and combinations thereof; the methodcomprising acts of:

a. Viewing, by the first consumer-user, a subset of first brandinformation that is provided by the system to the first consumer-userand the one or more additional consumer-users; and

b. Viewing, by the first consumer-user, an interaction with the subsetof first brand information comprising a conversation initiated by thefirst consumer-user and/or the one or more additional consumer-users,wherein the conversation relates to one or more members of the subset offirst brand information.

The conversation displayed in embodiment (18) can be displayed by thesystem to the first consumer-user and one or more additionalconsumer-users in a conversation data object. Moreover, the method ofembodiment (18) can further include viewing, by the first consumer-userand/or the one or more additional consumer-users a modified conversationbased on the conversation initiated in step (b), and optionally, themodified conversation is displayed by the system to the firstconsumer-user and one or more additional consumer-users in a modifiedconversation data object.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are provided to illustrate rather than limitthe scope of the invention.

FIG. 1( a) is a schematic representation of the system, including aprocessor, filter and analysis programs, collective brand data table,and a collective consumer data table, wherein the collective brand datatable draws information from an individual brand data table, andlikewise, the collective consumer data table draws information from anindividual consumer data table.

FIGS. 1( b)-(f) are schematic illustrations of the flow of data in thesystem from one or more system components to another.

FIG. 1( g) is a schematic illustration of an association between a user,A, data object X, derivative data object X′, and the followers of userA, users B, C, and D.

FIG. 1( h) is an illustration of a data object and the types of datastored within the data object database and the data objectrepresentation generated by the system.

FIG. 2( a) illustrates how a consumer-user can create a profile on thesystem.

FIG. 3( a) is one example of a consumer-user profile creation screenthat can be used on the system. FIG. 3( b) shows one embodiment of abrand-de-selection screen that can be used to create a profile on thesystem. FIG. 3( c) shows one or more lists that can be created by theconsumer-user during profile set-up on the system.

FIG. 3( d)-(e) schematically illustrate the profile creation process onthe system.

FIG. 4( a)-(f) illustrate several embodiments of a consumer-user'slanding page on the system.

FIG. 5( a)-(c) illustrate one embodiment of how a brand can create aprofile on the system.

FIG. 6( a)-(f) is a schematic illustration of the process used to createa brand profile.

FIG. 7( a)-(b) illustrate several embodiments of a brand's landing pageon the system.

FIGS. 8-9 are graphical representations of the system and itssubcomponents.

FIGS. 10( a)-(b) illustrate the display of a set of data objectrepresentations on a computer screen.

FIGS. 11( a)-(c) and 12(a)-(d) illustrate the display of a set of dataobject representations on a television screen.

FIGS. 13( a)-(f) illustrate alternative embodiments of systemconfigurations that (i) do not include derivative data object(s), and/or(ii) illustrate conversational data objects on the system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Descriptions of certain embodiments for practicing aspects of theinvention will be discussed below. The examples should not be consideredlimiting, but are intended to illustrate certain inventive aspects. Itwill be useful to appreciate, in reading the detailed description, thatcertain words or terms have defined meanings unless another meaning isapparent.

The invention provides an online community that offers the user a way tostay abreast of items and innovations, especially new items anddevelopments, from their favorite providers without having toindependently research the providers and items in which they haveinterest. The system allows users to form a personal relationship withthe providers they are interested in and share the experience withfollowers, e.g., via an online social networking system, as well asother users of the system. The system focuses on provider loyalty tooffer a unique online experience for users and a novel tool forproviders that gathers information about users interested in theirproducts and/or services. The system uses a “push modality” to presentto users provider and item information in which they have expressedinterest while also providing valuable opportunities for providers tointeract with users interested in their products and/or services.

The system aggregates items submitted by numerous providers and presentsthem to users in a customizable user graphical user interface (“GUI”).Users of the system do not have to search for items (although the systemincludes, e.g., key-word and/or Boolean search functionality). Rather,new or existing items are periodically pushed to users based on theiritem and/or provider preferences without prompting from the user. Inaddition to enabling the user to follow providers they like, the systemalso allows users to discover new providers and items in which theymight have an interest.

In addition, users can set up a network of contacts (or import or linktheir user page on the system to any of a number of social networkingsites, including but not limited to, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace,Friendster, YouTube, Linkedin, etc.) with whom they can share theirfavorite providers, interests, items, promotions, etc., and/or with whomthey interact regarding an item, provider, contemplated purchase, etc.Users can be notified of their contacts' activities on the system viathe user interface or via one or more social networking sites, such aswhen they express an interest in a provider or item, e.g., by followingan item or provider, liking an item or provider, etc. In one embodiment,a user can create lists of data objects representing items or providerswherein the items or providers listed are related to a user-definedtheme, activity, etc.

Still further, the system provides a mechanism for providers tocommunicate with existing and potential users. Providers can share anyinformation that is pertinent to a user that has shown interest in agiven provider by, e.g., following the provider or an item offered bythat provider. The ability to push item pre-release announcements,special promotions, incentives to participate in provider/item surveysand focus groups, etc. to such a targeted group of users is extremelyvaluable to the provider.

DEFINITIONS

“Computer” or “computer system” as used herein shall mean one or morecomputing devices, regardless of the number and location of processingelements. For example and without limitation, the term computer orcomputer system includes personal computers, desktop computers, tabletcomputers, computer networks, personal digital assistants (PDAs), mobilephones (whether smart phones, PDA phones or digital cell phones), webTV, portable e-mail devices, game consoles, media players, home theatercomputer systems, global positioning systems (GPS), and so forth. Inaddition, a computer system can provide access to two or moreconsumer-users at different computers in the same or differentlocations, in direct or indirect contact with a server(s) and/or eachother via a network (for example, the global internet and its World WideWeb).

A “user” as used herein is an individual who has a preference for anitem, provider, brand, event, or service listed in the system describedherein. In a specific embodiment, a user has a preference for acommercial item, provider, brand, event, or service listed in thesystem, and in this context, a user can be referred to as a “consumer”or “consumer-user.” The terms “consumer” and “consumer-user” are usedalternatively herein. A “provider” is an individual, organization, orentity that provides an item, event, and/or service on the system. In aspecific embodiment, a provider is a brand, e.g., a provider of one ormore products or categories of products. A “consumer-user” isdistinguishable from a “brand-user,” e.g., an individual or group ofindividuals authorized by a provider to access and/or modify providerinformation in a provider data table. A consumer-user can be a privateindividual, whereas a brand-user can be a volunteer, employee, orcontractor working on behalf of a provider, e.g., a company, merchant,retailer, reseller, event-planner, service provider, etc.

“Database” as used herein refers to any organized data structure orstructures used for storing, retrieving, and manipulating informationhaving a predefined meaning. Without limitation, a database can be aflat file structure, a relational structure, or any other form ofinformation storage. A database may include one or more data tables,wherein the one or more data tables include data relevant to providers,brands, users and other general system data. Data tables can besubdivided to uniquely identify a particular provider, brand,consumer-user, etc.

“Data object” as used herein refers to a database including data relatedto an item, provider, list, individual, category, interest, etc.,wherein the data is displayed by the system in a selectable commonvisual representation of that item, provider, list, individual,category, interest, etc. A data object can be created by a consumer-userand/or provider and displayed by the system in the consumer-user GUIand/or the provider GUI. In one embodiment, the data associated witheach data object on the system, regardless of origin, is displayed bythe system in a common visual representation, referred to herein as adata object representation, that comprises one or more of the followingelements: standardized or customized layout, color scheme, typeface, andorganization of elements of the data object representation, e.g., title,description, image/media, and optional commentary fields. For example,the data object representation can include a tile, board, icon, etc.,and in a specific embodiment, the data object representation includes astandardized layout, including a title, item image and/or provider logoor trademark, optionally price, and commentary fields, such that in thisspecific embodiment, each data object representation on the systemcomprises the same standardized layout. Each data object representationis selectable in that a data object representation can be selected by auser of the system to view a more detailed visual representation of theitem, provider, brand, list, individual, category, interest, etc.including additional fields/information related to that item, provider,brand, list, individual, category, interest, etc. Each data objectrepresentation is also selectable in that data object representationsinclude one or more icons that a user can select to interact with a dataobject representation, e.g., following, liking, listing, conversing,friending, etc. Therefore, the data object representation is a portalfor the user to access and interact with the data available in the dataobject (i.e., the database) related to the item, provider, brand, list,individual, category, interest, etc., represented by that data objectrepresentation. As used herein, a user views and/or interacts with adata object representation.

In a specific embodiment, each data object representation relating to anitem or provider includes a commentary field that includes commentsabout that item or provider provided by a consumer-user, one or morefollowers of that consumer-user of the system, as well as providersaffiliated with that item or provider. Therefore, each data objectrepresentation displayed in a consumer-user's GUI or a provider GUI iscustomized by the system for that consumer-user or brand-user based ontheir profile settings and preferences, and includes comments providedby that consumer-user, a brand-user, followers of that consumer-userand/or brand-user, and/or those followed by that consumer-user and/orbrand-user. The system is configured to preferentially display thosedata object representations that relate to a consumer-user's preferencese.g., data object representations that relate to an item, provider, orindividual that a consumer-user follows on the system are displayed inthe consumer-user's GUI (other data object representations relating toitems, provider, or individuals not followed by the consumer-user arenevertheless visible on the system to the consumer-user, but theconsumer-user's GUI is configured to automatically display data objectrepresentations in which the consumer-user has expressed a preference).An unrelated consumer-user of the system can modify a data object inwhich the first consumer-user has a preference but because the firstconsumer-user does not follow the unrelated consumer that modified dataobject is not displayed in the first consumer-user's GUI.

A graphical user-interface (“GUI”) is a type of user-interface thatallows a user to interact with an electronic device using images and/ortext commands A GUI allows a user to manipulate graphical icons, dataobject representations, visual indicators and/or text-based interfaces.Actions are performed by direct manipulation of graphical or textelements in the GUI. While certain embodiments described herein orcomponents thereof are described by reference to a desktop interface,such descriptions are for illustrative purposes only. It will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that various adjustments can bemade to the system and its components without departing from the spiritor scope of the invention. For example, the GUI and components thereofcan be adjusted for use in any format depending on the amount of datathat can be displayed per screen, e.g., a GUI in a desktop environmentcan display more data per screen than a GUI in a smart phone. While theappearance of a GUI may be adjusted because of the size limitations ofthe format (e.g., desktop vs. smart phone), the system functionalityremains unchanged and it is within the skill of the ordinary artisan toadjust the GUI as needed for any individual computer format. Likewise,the elements of the GUI can be organized or displayed in any mannerwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Forexample, the layout of individual elements or fields in the GUI can beadjusted, e.g., the relative position of search fields, data tables,data object representations, item or provider information, elements of aconsumer and/or provider profile, etc. without altering the systemfunctionality And while the system is illustrated and described hereinby reference to one or more GUI layouts, those embodiments are forillustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limitations onthe scope of the invention.

An “item” as used herein, is a product, service, event, etc. The itemcan be a commercial item, e.g., supplies and services of a typecustomarily used by the general public, including but not limited tocomponents and any combination of items or services, as well asmanagement and professional support services providing assistance,advice or training.

A provider or user can provide “provider information” regarding an itemor provider. In a specific embodiment, if the provider is a brand, abrand or user can provide “brand information” regarding an item orbrand. Provider information includes general information about theprovider, as well as commercial item information. In a specificembodiment, brand information includes general brand information andcommercial item information. General provider information includesinformation about the provider that is not specifically related to adistinct item, including but not limited to information related to oneor more provider trademarks, one or more provider logos, one or morecommercial item logos, provider description, interest categoriesassociated with provider, provider media, provider purchasinginformation, retail information, provider promotional information,information related providers within the provider portfolio, relatedprovider description, related provider products, or combinationsthereof. In the specific embodiment in which a provider is a brand,general brand information includes information about the brand that isnot specifically related to a distinct item, including but not limitedto information related to one or more brand trademarks, one or morebrand logos, one or more commercial item logos, brand description,interest categories associated with brand, brand media, brand purchasinginformation, retail information, brand promotional information,information related brands within the brand portfolio, related branddescription, related brand products, or combinations thereof. Commercialitem information pertains to a specific item, including but not limitedto, information related to one or more commercial item trademarks,commercial item description information, commercial item media,commercial item purchasing information, commercial item retailinformation, commercial item promotional information, related firstbrand products, or combinations thereof.

A user can have a “preference” for an item, provider and/or another user(e.g., consumer-user and/or brand-user) represented by a data object onthe system. A “preference” on the system expressed by one user foranother user, an item, or provider, is expressed by, e.g., “following” adata object representation signifying that user, item, or provider,which enables one user to track the system activities of another user,item, or provider; “friending” e.g., one user requests to join another'sgroup of contacts and the other user accepts or rejects that request,and by accepting the invitation, the first user is able to track thesystem activities of the other user; “liking” a data object representingan item, user, or provider, enables the user to indicate a predilectionfor that item or provider in a way that does not allow the user to trackactivities related to that item or provider; “listing” a data objectrepresenting an item or provider, which allows the user to include thatitem, provider, or individual in one or more lists created by that user;and/or “conversing” about a data object representing a user, item, orprovider, which generates a conversation data object representationassociated with a source data object and the user initiating theconversation and that conversation data object representation is visibleto followers of the user initiating the conversation.

In a preferred embodiment, a consumer-user of the system expresses apreference for an item, provider, or individual by following, listing,conversing, or liking a data object representation signifying that item,provider or individual. In one particular embodiment of the system, if afirst user follows a data object representation signifying an item,individual, or brand, the identity and one or more of the systemactivities of that first user with respect to that followed data objectare visible to other users of the system that follow that first userand/or those other users the first user follows. In particular, thefollowed data object representation will be displayed in the firstuser's GUI and it may also be displayed in the GUI of followers of thefirst user and/or those followed by the first user. In addition, otherusers of the system that do not have a relationship with the first usercan also view his/her followed data object representations under his/heruser profile on the system, but the followed data object representationsof the first user will only be displayed automatically on the GUI ofthose other users that follow the first user and/or those users that thefirst user follows. (Of course, the system can be adjusted to enable oneor more additional interactions with a data object representation, e.g.,listing, conversing, or liking, to be automatically displayed to otherusers of the system and/or the set of followers of a user on the systemin the same way as the action of following a data object representationis automatically displayed.) With respect to one consumer-userexpressing a preference for another consumer-user on the system, e.g.,by following a data object representation signifying that individual,such interactions on the system between one consumer-user and anothercan be likened to those individuals having a “relationship” and/or aconnection on the system. The preferences described above can beexpressed by a consumer-user and/or a brand-user on his/her own behalfor on behalf of a provider he/she is authorized to represent on thesystem.

One type of preference that can be expressed on the system is a “systemtracking preference” i.e., an action taken by one consumer-user (orbrand-user) with respect to a data object representing an item,provider, consumer-user, etc. that enables the actor (i.e., theconsumer-user expressing the preference) to track the identity andsystem activities associated with that data object. In a preferredembodiment, a consumer-user of the system expresses a preference for anitem, provider, or individual by following, listing, conversing, orliking a data object representation signifying that item, provider orindividual. In a specific embodiment, if a first user or brand follows adata object representation signifying an item, individual, or brand, theact of following constitutes an expression of a system trackingpreference that enables that first consumer-user to view and track thesystem activities of the other consumer-user, provider, item, etc. inwhich he/she has expressed a system tracking preference. (Once again,the system can be adjusted to enable one or more additional interactionswith a data object representation, e.g., listing, conversing, or liking,to constitute a “system tracking preference” that enables the actor totrack the identity and system activities associated with that dataobject.)

As described above, a provider or consumer-user creates a data objectrelated to an item or provider. In a specific embodiment, if anotheruser follows that data object then the system creates a derivative dataobject specific for and visible to the follower (and his/her followers).The original data object representation (or source data object) can be,for example, liked, listed, or followed by additional users of thesystem, but in this embodiment, the act of following (i.e., theexpression of a system tracking preference) creates a derivative dataobject and that derivative data object representation is visible to thefollower and his/her followers. Likewise, if a provider elects to followa data object representation created by another provider or aconsumer-user on the system, then the system creates a derivative dataobject specific for and visible to that provider and followers of thatprovider. (This is one example of a system configuration and the skilledartisan will readily appreciate that the system can be adjusted toexpand the list of interactions that constitute system trackingpreferences that generate derivative data objects.)

In an alternative embodiment of the system, if a user follows a dataobject representation then the system does not create a derivative dataobject as described above. Instead, the system generates an associationbetween the user that followed the data object and that data object andthat association is stored to a global tracking database. In thisalternative embodiment, once a user follows a data object then thesystem displays the data object representation of that data object tothe user and his/her followers.

Expressing a preference for a data object representation signifying anitem, provider, or another user, is one form of “interaction” a user canhave with a data object representation (or a derivative data objectrepresentation). An “interaction” with a data object, as used herein,includes but is not limited to, viewing a data object representation,expressing a preference for a data object representation, commenting ona data object representation, generating a conversation data objectbased on a source data object, participating in a dialog regarding adata object representation and/or a conversation data objectrepresentation, offering an opinion regarding a data objectrepresentation and/or a conversation data object representation,providing a rating for a data object representation, clicking through adata object representation to view additional details, clicking througha data object representation to view first provider-hosted information,participating in a survey regarding a data object representation,requesting further information from the provider regarding a data objectrepresentation, buying a commercial item displayed in a data objectrepresentation from a third-party retailer/reseller, buying a commercialitem displayed in a data object representation directly from the firstprovider, buying a commercial item displayed in a data objectrepresentation from an individual, participating in an auction regardinga data object representation, offering a commercial item displayed in adata object representation for free, loan, sale, lease, and/or rental,requesting to purchase a commercial item displayed in a data objectrepresentation, requesting that a discontinued commercial item displayedin a data object representation is re-introduced by the first providerand/or an authorized retailer/reseller thereof, suggesting to the firstprovider product ideas, improvements, and/or corrections regarding adata object, removing a data object representation from one or morelists (“de-listing”), sharing a data object representation with anindividual or group, e.g., emailing the data object representation (or ahyperlink to the data object), including a hyperlink for that dataobject representation on a social networking system, etc., “un-liking” adata object representation, e.g., removing that data objectrepresentation from the list of liked data object representations in aconsumer-user's profile, “un-friending”, e.g., removing that data objectrepresentation from the list of “friends” in a consumer-user's profile,or combinations thereof.

It will be understood by the skilled artisan that the system describedherein is not limited to a method of managing and/or exchanginginformation about items or providers, but it can also be extended to amethod of managing and/or exchanging any type of information, e.g.,between a merchant and a customer, an event-planner and an attendee, aservice provider and a customer, within a business entity betweenemployees of that business, etc. In a specific embodiment, the systemdescribed herein relates to a method of exchanging information aboutcommercially available items, providers, brands, services, events, etc.In a particular embodiment, the set of information exchanged and/ormanaged on the system uniformly relates to commercially available items,brands, services, events, etc. While other social networking sites,e.g., Facebook, Twitter, etc., can include item or provider-relatedposts and/or comments, that is ancillary to the purpose of the sites,i.e., to encourage social interaction between users for any purpose. Incontrast, the present system encourages social interaction between usersand providers about commercial items, brands, services, events, etc.

Customizable Data Management System

The invention provides a streamlined method of transferring data throughthe system to synthesize a dataset that is customized for a particularuser of the system based on the user's preferences and relationships onthe system. That customized dataset is displayed in the user's GUI.Likewise, the system synthesizes a customized dataset for eachindividual user and provider on the system and displays that uniquecustomized dataset in the user's/provider's GUI. Because each user,provider, item, category, and data object on the system includes aunique identifier, each time a participant on the system (user orprovider) expresses a preference for a data object (e.g., via a dataobject representation), that action is uniquely associated in the systemwith the user (or provider) and one or more data object representations,either the original data object and/or a derivative data object,depending on the type of preference expressed. If the user expresses asystem tracking preference, a derivative data object is generated anduniquely associated with that user; the system then generates a subsetof that user's followers and copies a reference to that data object intoone or more sections, channels, or feeds of the follower's GUI so thatthe user's followers are apprised of the user's activity on the system.If, on the other hand, the user expresses a preference that does notconstitute a system tracking preference, a derivative data object is notgenerated, but the user's preference for the original data object isrecorded in the system and the system copies a reference to thatoriginal data object into one or more sections, channels, or feeds ofthe user's GUI.

In particular, each user, item, provider, category, brand, etc., isassociated in the system with a data object and each data object, user,provider, category, and item on the system is associated in the systemwith a unique identifier (ID). Each data object (and derivative dataobject) includes a reference to the user ID of the user that created it,as well as the provider ID associated with that data object, and alldata objects (and derivative data objects) and the unique identifiersassociated with them are stored in a collective data object database. Inone embodiment, if user A chooses to follow data object X (i.e., theuser expresses a system tracking preference for data object X), thesystem creates a derivative data object having identifier X′. The systemthen creates an association between user A, data object X, and dataobject X′ and that association is stored in a global tracking database.Therefore, in this specific example, the association that is createdincludes the following data: user A, data object X, and data object X′.The system then surveys the global tracking database for the dataset offollowers of user A on the system, e.g., users B, C, and D. If user Ahas no followers, derivative data object X′ (i.e., a derivative dataobject X′ representation) is displayed in one or more user A customizedchannels or feeds, e.g., those channels or feeds related to user A'srecent activities on the system. If user A has a follower, e.g., user B,the system displays derivative data object X′ representation in a user Bcustomized channel or feed designed to display data objectrepresentations new to user B on the system; and likewise, if user A hasadditional followers, e.g., users C and D, the system displaysderivative data object X′ representation in a user C customized channelor feed and a user D customized channel or feed, respectively.

In an alternative embodiment, if user A chooses to follow data object X(i.e., the user expresses a system tracking preference for data objectX), the system does not create a derivative data object, although thesystem creates an association between user A and data object X and thatassociation is stored in a global tracking database. Therefore, in thisspecific alternative embodiment, the association that is createdincludes the following data: user A and data object X. The system thensurveys the global tracking database for the dataset of followers ofuser A on the system, e.g., users B, C, and D. If user A has nofollowers, data object X representation is displayed in one or more userA customized channels or feeds, e.g., those channels or feeds related touser A's recent activities on the system. If user A has a follower,e.g., user B, the system displays data object X representation in a userB customized channel or feed designed to display data objectrepresentations new to user B on the system; and likewise, if user A hasadditional followers, e.g., users C and D, the system displays dataobject X representation in a user C customized channel or feed and auser D customized channel or feed, respectively.

As described above, the act of following a data object constitutes asystem tracking preference that creates an association between thefollower and the data object and in optionally, the system generates aderivative data object based on the followed data object representation.In one specific embodiment of the system, the act of liking a dataobject representation does not generate a system tracking preference,although an association is created between the liked data objectrepresentation and the user that liked that representation. Therefore,in this specific embodiment, if user A likes data object Xrepresentation, that preference is associated with data object X in thecollective data object database and likewise, user A's preference fordata object X is stored in user A's profile, but the system does notgenerate a derivative data object. An association between user A anddata object X is created and stored to the global tracking databaseand/or an additional tracking database, which may be a component of theglobal tracking database or a separate database in the system. Thesystem displays data object X representation in one or more of user A'sGUI sections, channels, or feeds as well as one or more sections,channels, or feeds of user A's followers.

A further data transfer and management embodiment is provided in whichthe system generates a customizable section, channel or feed of dataobject representations not previously displayed to a user of the systemin his/her customizable GUI, referred to as New Channel. In thisembodiment, if a user chooses to view his/her New Channel, the systemretrieves a dataset of data objects previously displayed in the NewChannel, queries the collective data object database for objects notpreviously displayed in the user's New Channel, generates a dataset ofnew data objects, deletes those data objects previously displayed orviewed on the system, and displays the new data object representationsof the dataset in the New Channel. If no new data objects are availablein the collective data object database, the system displays a message tothe user via the GUI that the New Channel is empty. In one embodiment,the system can determine whether a data object representation has beenviewed by a user, e.g., by detecting via JavaScript in the browser thatthe data object representation was displayed in the GUI and a message issent to the server to instruct the system to remove the data object fromthe New Channel data table. When the New Channel is refreshed, that dataobject representation will no longer be displayed. Alternatively, thesystem may not detect actual “views” by a user in his/her browser, butinstead, simply maintain an inventory of data objects that have beenpresented in the New Channel and once presented, the reference to thatdata object is deleted from the New Channel data table. In yet anotheralternative, the system can delete a reference to a data object within aselected time from first display in the New Channel, e.g., within oneweek, one month, three months, etc.

The system uses this method to create a variety of synthesized datasetsthat are customized for each user or provider on the system, dependingon the type of information they would like to view on the system. In oneembodiment, the invention provides a computer implemented method ofselecting data objects for interaction with a user at a graphical userinterface, the method comprising: receiving a data stream from an itemprovider, the data stream identifying items available from the itemprovider; storing a data object in a global database with a provideridentifier uniquely identifying the item provider; storing for each itemin the data stream a data object with an item identifier uniquelyidentifying the item; detecting a user interaction at a graphical userinterface of a user device, the interaction with an item or itemprovider data object, and creating a user data object with a useridentifier uniquely identifying the user; creating in a trackingdatabase an association between the user data object and the item and/oritem provider data object; and using the tracking database to select acustomized data set of data objects based on the associations in thetracking database, the customized data set being for presentation at thegraphical user interface.

Moreover, the invention provides a computer system comprising: aplurality of user devices each having a display interface available to auser; a plurality of item providers; a global database of data objects,each data object comprising a unique data object identifier of thatobject and a user, item, or provider identifier of a user, item orprovider to which that data object relates; computer storage storing:(i) for each item provider, a respective provider data table comprisinga unique provider identifier of that provider and one or more itemidentifiers of items provided by that provider; (ii) for each user, arespective user data table comprising a unique user identifier of thatuser and one or more item identifiers, provider identifiers, and/orcategory identifiers for items, providers and/or categories in whichthat user has expressed a preference; and (iii) a customized set of datatables selected for at least a first user, the customized set selectedfrom the user data tables and provider data tables based on the itemand/or the provider identifiers contained in the first users data table;a global tracking database configured responsive to the first userexpressing an additional preference for a provider or item byinstigating an association instruction at their user device to associatethat first user's user identifier with an object identifier of a dataobject comprising the provider or item identifier of that provider oritem; and an information exchange computer configured, responsive to thefirst user expressing the additional interest in the item or provider,to select one or more additional provider data tables and/or user datatables for inclusion in the first user's customized set to update thatset, and to select at least one data object based on the first user'supdated set for display to the first user via the display interface oftheir user device.

Also provided is a computer system comprising: a plurality of userdevices each having a display interface available to a user; a pluralityof item providers; a global database of data objects, each data objectcomprising a unique object identifier of that object and a user, item,or provider identifier of a user, item or provider to which that objectrelates, the data objects including a user association data objectcomprising a target user identifier of a target user and a follower useridentifier of a user following the target user, wherein the globaldatabase is configured responsive to the target user expressing atracking interest in a data object by instigating a tracking instructionat their user device to create a new derivative data object based onthat data object; a global tracking database configured responsive tothe target user expressing the tracking interest in the data object tostore an association between the user identifier of the target user, theobject identifier of that data object, and the object identifier of thecreated derivative data object; and an information exchange computerconfigured, responsive to the target user expressing the interest in thedata object to access the global database and the global trackingdatabase and to display the derivative data object to the follower uservia the display interface of their user device.

In an additional embodiment, the invention provides a computer systemcomprising: a plurality of user devices each having a display interfaceavailable to a user; a plurality of item providers; a global database ofdata objects, each data object comprising a unique object identifier ofthat object and a user, item, or provider identifier of a user, item orprovider to which that object relates, the data objects including a userassociation data object comprising a target user identifier of a targetuser and a follower user identifier of a user following the target user,wherein the global database is configured responsive to the target userexpressing a tracking interest in a data object representation byinstigating a tracking instruction at their user device to create anassociation between the target user identifier and the data objectrepresentation; a global tracking database configured responsive to thetarget user expressing the tracking interest in the data object to storethe association; and an information exchange computer configured,responsive to the target user expressing the tracking interest in thedata object to access the global database and the global trackingdatabase and to display the data object representation to the followeruser via the display interface of their user device.

In this additional embodiment, the invention therefore provides acomputer implemented method of selecting data objects for interactionwith a user at a graphical user interface, the method comprising:receiving a data stream from an item provider, the data streamidentifying items available from the item provider; storing a dataobject in a global database with a provider identifier uniquelyidentifying the item provider; storing for each item in the data streama data object with an item identifier uniquely identifying the item;detecting a user interaction at a graphical user interface of a userdevice, the interaction with an item or item provider data objectrepresentation, and associating the data object with a user identifieruniquely identifying the user; storing in a tracking database theassociation between the data object and the user identifier; and usingthe tracking database to select a customized data set of data objectsbased on the associations in the tracking database, the customized dataset being for presentation at the graphical user interface.

Still further, the invention includes a computer system comprising: aplurality of user devices each having a display interface available to auser; a plurality of item providers; a global database of data objects,each data object comprising a unique object identifier of that objectand a user, item, or provider identifier of a user, item or provider towhich that object relates, the data objects including a user associationdata object comprising a target user identifier of a target user and afollower user identifier of a user following the target user, whereinthe global database is configured responsive to the target userinitiating a conversation regarding a data object representation byinstigating a conversation instruction at their user device to create anew conversation data object based on that data object; a globaltracking database configured responsive to the target user initiatingthe conversation regarding the data object representation to store anassociation between the user identifier of the target user, the objectidentifier of that data object, and the object identifier of the createdconversation data object; and an information exchange computerconfigured, responsive to the target user initiating the conversationregarding the data object representation to access the global databaseand the global tracking database and to display the conversation dataobject representation to the follower user via the display interface oftheir user device.

In this embodiment, the invention provides a computer implemented methodof selecting data objects for interaction with a user at a graphicaluser interface, the method comprising: receiving a data stream from anitem provider, the data stream identifying items available from the itemprovider; storing a data object in a global database with a provideridentifier uniquely identifying the item provider; storing for each itemin the data stream a data object with an item identifier uniquelyidentifying the item; detecting a user interaction at a graphical userinterface of a user device, the interaction with an item or itemprovider data object representation and comprising initiating aconversation regarding the data object representation, and creating aconversation data object with a conversation identifier uniquelyidentifying the user and the item or item provider represented by thedata object representation; creating in a tracking database anassociation between the conversation data object, the user and the itemand/or item provider data object; and using the tracking database toselect a customized data set of data objects based on the associationsin the tracking database, the customized data set being for presentationat the graphical user interface.

In a specific embodiment, the invention provides a method of exchangingprovider information on a system, wherein the system has (i) a pluralityof consumer-users including a first consumer-user and one or moreadditional consumer-users, wherein optionally, the first and one or moreadditional consumer-users have a relationship on the system, and (ii) aplurality of provider including a first provider, the method comprisingacts of:

-   -   Receiving first provider information;    -   Receiving first provider preference information indicating that        the first consumer-user has expressed a preference for the first        provider information;    -   Filtering the first provider information to create a subset of        first provider information that is provided to the first        consumer-user;    -   Displaying to the first consumer-user one or more data object        representations relating to the subset of the first provider        information;    -   Receiving one or more first consumer-user interactions with the        one or more data object representations relating to the subset        of first provider information;    -   Displaying to the first provider:        -   Interaction data relating to the first provider and specific            to one or more consumer-users;        -   Interaction data related to the first provider aggregated            for a plurality of consumer-users on the system;        -   Comparative interaction data from a plurality of            customer-users related to the first provider relative to a            one or more other provider on the system; or        -   Combinations thereof.

In a specific embodiment, the invention provides a method of exchangingbrand information on a system, wherein the system has (i) a plurality ofconsumer-users including a first consumer-user and one or moreadditional consumer-users, wherein optionally, the first and one or moreadditional consumer-users have a relationship on the system, and (ii) aplurality of brands including a first brand, the method comprising actsof:

-   -   Receiving first brand information;    -   Receiving first brand preference information indicating that the        first consumer-user has expressed a preference for the first        brand information;    -   Filtering the first brand information to create a subset of        first brand information that is provided to the first        consumer-user;    -   Displaying to the first consumer-user one or more data object        representations relating to the subset of the first brand        information;    -   Receiving one or more first consumer-user interactions with the        one or more data object representations relating to the subset        of first brand information;    -   Displaying to the first brand:        -   Interaction data relating to the first brand and specific to            one or more consumer-users;        -   Interaction data related to the first brand aggregated for a            plurality of consumer-users on the system;        -   Comparative interaction data from a plurality of            customer-users related to the first brand relative to a one            or more other brands on the system; or        -   Combinations thereof.

For example, the plurality of users of the system includes a pluralityof consumer-users of the system, as well as brands that offer commercialitems on the system. The processor receives information indicating thata first consumer-user of the system has a preference for (i) acommercial item offered by a brand on the system, and/or (ii) a brandoffering one or more commercial items on the system. The processorreceives item and/or brand information relating to the commercial itemand/or brand, and filters the item and/or brand information to create asubset of the item and/or brand information that is provided toconsumer-users in which the first user has expressed a preference. Theprocessor displays one or more data object representations relating tothe subset to the first user in the GUI. The processor also receivesinformation related to interactions the first consumer-user has with thesubset of data object representations displayed to the firstconsumer-user, e.g., viewing the data object representation, purchasingan item depicted in a data object representation, comments to a dataobject representation, liking or following a data object representation,initiating a conversation regarding a data object representation andthereby generating a conversation data object regarding a source dataobject, etc., and the system displays to the first brand, interactiondata related to the plurality of consumer-users having a preference forthe first brand. The system also displays to the first brand interactiondata related to the first brand aggregated for a plurality ofconsumer-users on the system, as well as comparative interaction datafrom the plurality of users of the system related to the first brandrelative to other brands on the system.

Whereas the system includes a plurality of brands, the method alsoincludes the following steps: receiving additional brand informationfrom a plurality of brands; receiving additional brand preferenceinformation indicating that the first consumer-user has expressed apreference for an additional subset of the additional brand information;filtering the first brand information and the additional brandinformation to create one or more supplemental subsets of additionalbrand information that is provided to the first consumer-user;displaying to the first consumer-user one or more data objectrepresentations relating to the one or more supplemental subsets ofadditional brand information; receiving one or more first consumer-userinteractions with the one or more data object representations relatingto the one or more supplemental subsets of additional brand information;and displaying to each of the additional brands: (i) interaction datarelating to the one or more additional brands and specific to the one ormore consumer-users expressing a preference for the one or moreadditional brand information; (ii) interaction data related to the oneor more additional brands aggregated for a plurality of consumer-userson the system; (iii) comparative interaction data from a plurality ofcustomer-users related to the one or more additional brands relative toa one or more other brands on the system; or (iv) combinations thereof.

In a particular embodiment, the invention provides a method ofexchanging provider information on a system as described above, whereinthe system displays to the first consumer-user provider information notpreviously displayed to a consumer-user on the system. In a specificembodiment, the system preferentially displays brand information notpreviously displayed to the consumer-user relative to other brandinformation the system previously displayed to that consumer-user,thereby identifying those data object representations not previouslydisplayed to the consumer-user. In another embodiment, the systemdisplays to a consumer-user brand information not displayed to aconsumer-user within a defined time frame, e.g., one year, 6 months, 3months, 1 month, etc. In this regard, the system displays one or moredata object representations related to new items, brands, etc. that theconsumer-user has not seen on the system, i.e., that subset of brandinformation on the system in which the consumer-user has expressed apreference that is new to that consumer-user. Therefore, theconsumer-user GUI displays a subset of information related to itemsand/or brands not previously displayed to the consumer-user by thesystem. For example, the new brand or item information may include butis not limited to, a new item offered by a brand, a new item or brand inan interest category preferred by the consumer-user and for a new brand,products offered by that new brand, new description information relatedto an item or brand, new purchasing information related to an item orbrand, a promotion related to that item or brand, an image, video, oranother graphic related to an item or brand not previously displayed tothe consumer-user, a new review for that item or brand, new items orbrands associated with an item or brand or that may be used with thatitem or brand (and vice versa), new comments about that item or brandmade by followers of the user, etc.

In addition, if a consumer-user expresses a system tracking preferencefor provider information, the system filters that provider's informationto create a first supplemental subset of provider information that isprovided to that consumer-user and his/her followers and displays thedata object representations, and/or in one specific embodiment, one ormore derivative data object representations that relate to that firstsupplemental subset of provider information. Likewise, if an additionalconsumer-user of the system expresses a system tracking preference for afirst consumer-user, the system filters the first provider informationin which the first consumer-user has expressed a preference to create asecond supplemental subset of first provider information and displaysone or more data object representations and/or derivative data objectrepresentations relating to that second supplemental subset to theadditional consumer-user. Moreover, if a brand-user of the systemexpresses a system tracking preference for a first consumer-user, thesystem filters the first provider information in which the firstconsumer-user has expressed a preference to create a third supplementalsubset of first provider information and displays one or more dataobject representations and/or derivative data object representationsrelating to that third supplemental subset to the brand-user. In aspecific example, if a consumer-user expresses a system trackingpreference for brand information, the system filters that brand'sinformation to create a first supplemental subset of brand informationthat is provided to that consumer-user and his/her followers anddisplays one or more data object representations and/or derivative dataobject representations that relate to that first supplemental subset ofbrand information. Likewise, if an additional consumer-user of thesystem expresses a system tracking preference for a first consumer-user,the system filters the first brand information in which the firstconsumer-user has expressed a preference to create a second supplementalsubset of first brand information and displays one or more data objectrepresentations and/or derivative data object representations relatingto that second supplemental subset to the additional consumer-user.Moreover, if a brand-user of the system expresses a system trackingpreference for a first consumer-user, the system filters the first brandinformation in which the first consumer-user has expressed a preferenceto create a third supplemental subset of first brand information anddisplays one or more data object representations and/or derivative dataobject representations relating to that third supplemental subset to thebrand-user.

In another embodiment, the invention includes a method of exchanginginformation on a system having a plurality of consumer-users including afirst consumer-user, the method comprising acts of (a) receivinginformation indicating that a first consumer-user has a preference for acommercial item and/or provider; (b) receiving item and/or providerinformation, provided by at least some of the plurality ofconsumer-users and/or the provider relating to the commercial itemand/or provider; (c) filtering the item and/or provider information tocreate a subset of the item and/or provider information that is providedto the consumer-user; and (d) displaying to the first consumer user oneor more data object representations relating to the subset of the itemand/or provider information. For example, the invention includes amethod of exchanging information on a system having a plurality ofconsumer-users including a first consumer-user, the method comprisingacts of (a) receiving information indicating that a first consumer-userhas a preference for a commercial item and/or brand; (b) receiving itemand/or brand information, provided by at least some of the plurality ofconsumer-users and/or the brand relating to the commercial item and/orbrand; (c) filtering the item and/or brand information to create asubset of the item and/or brand information that is provided to theconsumer-user; and (d) displaying to the first consumer user one or moredata object representations relating to the subset of the item and/orbrand information.

The invention also includes a method of exchanging information on asystem between a first provider and a first consumer-user, the systemcomprising (a) a plurality of consumer-users including the firstconsumer-user, and (b) a plurality of providers including the firstprovider, wherein the system is configured to receive, filter, and/ordisplay information related to the first consumer-user, the firstprovider, the plurality of consumer-users, the plurality of providers, acommercial item, interaction data, comparative interaction data andcombinations thereof; the method comprising acts of (a) viewing, by thefirst provider, interaction data related to the plurality ofconsumer-users expressing a preference for first provider information;and (b) providing additional first provider information responsive tothe first provider interaction data. The method can also includeviewing, by the first provider, provider comparative interaction datafor the first provider relative to the plurality of providers on thesystem and/or a subset of the plurality of providers on the system; andproviding additional first provider information responsive to the firstprovider interaction data and/or the first provider comparativeinteraction data. For example, the invention includes a method ofexchanging information on a system between a first brand and a firstconsumer-user, the system comprising (a) a plurality of consumer-usersincluding the first consumer-user, and (b) a plurality of brandsincluding the first brand, wherein the system is configured to receive,filter, and/or display information related to the first consumer-user,the first brand, the plurality of consumer-users, the plurality ofbrands, a commercial item, interaction data, comparative interactiondata and combinations thereof; the method comprising acts of (a)viewing, by the first brand, interaction data related to the pluralityof consumer-users expressing a preference for first brand information;and (b) providing additional first brand information responsive to thefirst brand interaction data. The method can also include viewing, bythe first brand, brand comparative interaction data for the first brandrelative to the plurality of brands on the system and/or a subset of theplurality of brands on the system; and providing additional first brandinformation responsive to the first brand interaction data and/or thefirst brand comparative interaction data.

In addition, also provided is a method of exchanging information on asystem between a first provider and a first consumer-user, the systemcomprising (a) a plurality of consumer-users including the firstconsumer-user, and (b) a plurality of providers including the firstprovider, wherein the system is configured to receive, filter, and/ordisplay information related to the first consumer-user, the firstprovider, the plurality of consumer-users, the plurality of providers, acommercial item, interaction data, comparative interaction data andcombinations thereof; the method comprising acts of: (a) viewing, by thefirst consumer-user, first provider information relating to (i) thegeneral first provider information and/or the first provider commercialitem; (ii) expressing a preference for (i) the general first providerinformation and/or the first provider commercial item; and (iii)viewing, by the first consumer-user, a subset of first providerinformation that is provided by the system to the first consumer-user.For example, also provided is a method of exchanging information on asystem between a first brand and a first consumer-user, the systemcomprising (a) a plurality of consumer-users including the firstconsumer-user, and (b) a plurality of brands including the first brand,wherein the system is configured to receive, filter, and/or displayinformation related to the first consumer-user, the first brand, theplurality of consumer-users, the plurality of brands, a commercial item,interaction data, comparative interaction data and combinations thereof;the method comprising acts of: (a) viewing, by the first consumer-user,first brand information relating to (i) the general first brandinformation and/or the first brand commercial item; (ii) expressing apreference for (i) the general first brand information and/or the firstbrand commercial item; and (iii) viewing, by the first consumer-user, asubset of first brand information that is provided by the system to thefirst consumer-user.

Moreover, also included is a method of exchanging information on asystem between a first consumer-user and one or more additionalconsumer-users, the system comprising (a) a plurality of consumer-usersincluding the first consumer-user and the one or more additionalconsumer-users, wherein the first and one or more additionalconsumer-users are connected in the system, and (b) a plurality ofproviders including the first provider, wherein the system is configuredto receive, filter, and/or display information related to the firstconsumer-user, the first provider, the plurality of consumer-users, theplurality of providers, a commercial item, interaction data, comparativeinteraction data and combinations thereof; the method comprising actsof: (a) viewing, by the first consumer-user, a subset of first providerinformation that is provided by the system to the first consumer-userand optionally one or more additional consumer-users; and (b) viewing,by the first consumer-user, an interaction with the subset of firstprovider information comprising: (i) a preference for one or moremembers of the subset of first provider information, wherein thepreference is expressed by the first consumer-user and/or the one ormore additional consumer-users; (ii) a comment regarding one or moremembers of the subset of first provider information, wherein the commentis provided by the first consumer-user and/or the one or more additionalconsumer-users; or (iii) combinations thereof. Also contemplated in thismethod is (c) interacting, by the first consumer-user, with the subsetof first provider information, e.g., expressing an additional preferencefor a data object within the subset, responding to a comment provided byanother consumer-user, etc. For example, the invention contemplates amethod of exchanging information on a system between a firstconsumer-user and one or more additional consumer-users, the systemcomprising (a) a plurality of consumer-users including the firstconsumer-user and the one or more additional consumer-users, wherein thefirst and one or more additional consumer-users are connected in thesystem, and (b) a plurality of brands including the first brand, whereinthe system is configured to receive, filter, and/or display informationrelated to the first consumer-user, the first brand, the plurality ofconsumer-users, the plurality of brands, a commercial item, interactiondata, comparative interaction data and combinations thereof; the methodcomprising acts of: (a) viewing, by the first consumer-user, a subset offirst brand information that is provided by the system to the firstconsumer-user and optionally one or more additional consumer-users; and(b) viewing, by the first consumer-user, an interaction with the subsetof first brand information comprising: (i) a preference for one or moremembers of the subset of first brand information, wherein the preferenceis expressed by the first consumer-user and/or the one or moreadditional consumer-users; (ii) a comment regarding one or more membersof the subset of first brand information, wherein the comment isprovided by the first consumer-user and/or the one or more additionalconsumer-users; or (iii) combinations thereof. Also contemplated in thismethod is (c) interacting, by the first consumer-user, with the subsetof first brand information, e.g., expressing an additional preferencefor a data object within the subset, responding to a comment provided byanother consumer-user, etc.

The foregoing methods are illustrated in the figures and theaccompanying description. While one or more of the figures illustrateone embodiment of the system in which the provider is a brand and theinformation exchanged on the system relates to commercial items andinformation associated therewith, it will be understood by those skilledin the art that the system described herein and illustrated in thefigures can be used to manage datasets of any type and provided by anymanner of provider. The system described herein provides an efficientmechanism to manage and display customizable datasets to a user,simplifying and enriching the user experience on the system, andcreating efficiencies in the transfer and management of data between twoor more databases on the system.

As shown in FIG. 1, the system includes a collective consumer data table(101), a collective brand data table (102), a processor (103), aninterface (104), and a set of filtering and analysis programs andassociated databases (105). The collective consumer data table storesall information about the plurality of consumer-users that participateon the system and likewise, the collective brand data table stores allinformation about the plurality of brands that participate on thesystem. The collective consumer data table comprises one or more sets ofconsumer data, one of which is depicted in FIGS. 1( a) and 1(f) asindividual consumer data (106). For each consumer-user with a profile onthe system, there is a corresponding consumer data table or individualconsumer data table stored within the collective consumer data table.Each individual consumer data comprises one or more additional datatables, including but not limited to a consumer profile (107) andpurchasing preferences including brand preferences (108), itempreferences (109), a contact, follower, and/or following data table(110), and an interest data table (111). The brand and/or itempreferences can also include one or more brand and/or item lists createdby the consumer-user (not shown), which may be used by the consumer-userto group brands and/or items in a consumer-user created ontology.

The collective brand data table comprises one or more brand data, one ofwhich is depicted in FIG. 1( a) as individual brand data (112). For eachbrand that participates on the system, there is a corresponding branddata table or individual brand data table stored within the collectivebrand data table. Each individual brand data comprises one or moreadditional data tables, including but not limited to an item catalogincluding a list of all items of the brand offered on the system (113),a contact, follower, and/or following data table (114) including a listof all consumer-users on the system that have expressed a preference forthat brand or an item offered by that brand on the system, and aninterest data table (115), including those interest categories that arerelevant to the items offered by the brand. In an optional embodiment,the collective brand data table includes a system ontology comprisingitem and brand categories, wherein brand information is organized withinone or more brand data tables in accordance with the system ontology.

The processor (103) includes a filtering program configured to filterthe collective brand data table based on the consumer's preferences,e.g., item, category and/or brand preferences. In other words, theprocessor filters the item, category, and/or brand information in thecollective brand data table and the collective consumer data table tocreate a subset of the item and/or brand information that relates onlyto those items and/or brands in which a first user has expressed apreference. For example, if a first user identified an interest in itemX, the system uses that information to filter the collective brand datatable for information related to item X, generating aconsumer-customized data table that includes information related to itemX. The system also filters the collective consumer data table for one ormore users from among the plurality of users on the system followed bythe first user that have provided item and/or brand information aboutitem X. Therefore, the GUI for that consumer-user displays a selectedsubset of information related to item X to that consumer, e.g., an itemX data object that includes a description of item X, purchasinginformation, an image, video, or another graphic of item X, reviews foritem X, sales or promotional information associated with item X, itemsrelated to item X, items used in connection with item X, and asdescribed in more details below, comments about item X made by followersof the user (derivative data objects related to item X). Likewise, if afirst user identified an interest in item category N, the system usesthat information to filter the collective brand data table forinformation related to items that are associated with category N,generating a consumer-customized data table that includes informationrelated to item n, m, and p. The system then displays data objectrepresentations of items n, m, and p.

In one embodiment, the filtering program provides a method of organizingthe collective brand data table based on the consumer's preferences,e.g., item, category, and/or brand preferences. In other words, theprocessor filters the item and/or brand information in the collectivebrand data table and the collective consumer data table to create asubset of the item and/or brand information that relates only to thoseitems and/or brands in which a first user has expressed a preference andthe system displays that subset to the consumer-user in a section orportion of the GUI dedicated to one or more of the consumer-user'spreferences. For example, if a first user identified an interest in itemX, the system uses that information to filter the collective brand datatable for information related to item X, generating aconsumer-customized data table that includes information related to itemX. The system also filters the collective consumer data table for one ormore users from among the plurality of users on the system followed bythe first user that have provided item and/or brand information aboutitem X. Therefore, the GUI for that consumer-user displays a selectedsubset of information related to item X to that consumer, e.g., an itemX data object representation that includes a description of item X,purchasing information, an image, video, or another graphic of item X,reviews for item X, sales or promotional information associated withitem X, items related to item X, items used in connection with item X,and as described in more details below, comments about item X made byfollowers of the user (derivative data object representations related toitem X).

The GUI for that consumer-user can display the selected subset ofinformation in any suitable format. In one embodiment, the GUI displaysthe selected subset of information in a channel or feed which isorganized according to a consumer-user's preferences and theconsumer-user can navigate between channels in the GUI. The system caninclude a set of defined channels or feeds and/or the consumer-user cancustomize one or more channels or feeds based on his/her preferences.The set of predefined channels or feeds can include, but is not limitedto, popular data object representations (e.g., data objects that havereceived or been the subject of high system activity in a given timeperiod), promotional data object representations (e.g., promotions ordeals are offered by a brand in relation to the data objects in thechannel or feed; “Deals Channel”), new data object representations(e.g., data objects that have not been viewed by the consumer-user onthe system, as described herein), all data object representations,and/or all brand data object representations. Moreover, the set ofpredefined channels or feeds can further include a set of channels orfeeds that are consumer-user specific, e.g., new data objectrepresentations to that consumer-user, brand data object representationsfor which that consumer-user has expressed a preference (e.g., “MyBrands Channel”), one or more collections of lists of data objectrepresentations of that consumer-user (e.g., “My Lists Channel”), one ormore collections of friends, followers, etc. associated with thatconsumer-user on the system (e.g., “My People Channel”), liked dataobject representations (e.g., “My Likes”), individuals or brands thatfollow that consumer-user (e.g., “Following Me Channel” and subchannelswithin can include “People Following Me” and/or “Brands Following Me”),data object representations the consumer-user has acted upon in thesystem (e.g., “My Activity Channel”), and/or data object representationsthe consumer-user has followed, liked, or otherwise expressed apreference for in the system (e.g., “My Following Activity,” “My LikedActivity,” etc.). Still further, the consumer-user can also define oneor more customized channels or feeds based on criteria selected by thatconsumer-user. For example, the consumer-user can define a channel fordata object representations related to his/her interests, e.g., golf,running, cooking, etc., such that the channel would organize data objectrepresentations for which the consumer-user has defined a preferencethat are related to that interest (e.g., “My Golf Channel”). Therefore,the GUI displays a plurality of channels or feeds in the consumer-user'sGUI, including predefined and/or customized channels or feeds, whereinthe content of each channel or feed is based on each individualconsumer-user's preferences on the system. Each channel or feed isindividually selectable.

Still further, the system includes an interface (104) which enables aconsumer-user to interact with the system and his/her profile andpreferences. The consumer-GUI allows the consumer to search, browse, andview item and brand listings on the system, and as described in moredetail below, individual item data object representations, brand dataobject representations, etc., unfiltered and/or filtered by the systembased on a consumer-user's preferences. Moreover, the consumer-GUIenables the consumer to modify or edit his/her profile and preferenceson the system. Likewise, the interface also includes a brand GUIconfigured to enable interaction of a brand representative(“brand-user”) with brand information and/or interaction data generatedby the system for the brand. The consumer- and brand-interfaces aredescribed in more detail below.

Use of the system is illustrated schematically in FIG. 1( b). Aconsumer-user creates a profile on the system (116) (the profile set-upprocess is described in more detail below). The profile is a componentof the individual user data (not shown in FIG. 1( b)), which is acomponent of the collective user data table (117). The system filtersthe collective user data table and the collective brand data table (118)based on the preferences and interests identified in the profile. Aconsumer customized data table is created by this filtering process(119) and the results are displayed in the consumer GUI (120). Thesystem periodically queries the collective user data table, collectivebrand data table, and the consumer profile for updates (121), e.g., eachtime a consumer-user logs into the system, and once on the system, theprocessor is programmed to refresh the data displayed in the consumerGUI in real time or on a periodic basis, e.g., every minute, 5 minutes,10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, etc. If there are one or more updatessince the last query, the consumer customized data table is updated(122) and if there are no updates, the consumer customized data table isnot updated (123).

One embodiment of data transfer and management on the system isillustrated schematically in FIG. 1( c). Each data object, user,provider, item, and category on the system is associated in the systemwith a unique identifier (ID) and as described above in reference toFIG. 1( a), each provider is associated in the system with an individualprovider data table (124). Moreover, each user, item, provider, brand,etc., is associated in the system with a data object and each dataobject is stored in a collective data object database (125) on thesystem (a component of element (105) in FIG. 1( a)). As described above,each provider is associated in the system with a provider profile (126).Each data object includes a reference to the user identifier (ID) of theuser (or provider) who created it, as well as the unique ID of the user,provider, item, category, etc. referenced in that data object.Therefore, for example, a user having user identifier A, referred tobelow as user A, accesses the system via a web page (127), mobileapplication view (128), or other viewing mechanism (129), and forexample, chooses to follow a provider data object having identifier X,and the system then creates a derivative data object having identifierX′ (131). In this example, data object X is a source data object andderivative data object X′ is a derivative of source data object X.Derivative data object X′ is stored in the collective data objectdatabase. The system then creates an association between user A, dataobject X, and data object X′ (132) and that association is stored in aglobal tracking database (133) (also a component of element (105) inFIG. 1( a)). Therefore, in this specific example, the association thatis created includes the following data: user A, data object X, and dataobject X′. The system then surveys the global tracking database for thedataset of followers of user A on the system, i.e., users B, C, and D(134). If user A has no followers, derivative data object X′representation is displayed in one or more user A customized sections,channels or feeds, e.g., a section, channel and/or feed related torecent user A activities on the system (135). If user A has a follower,e.g., user B, the system displays derivative data object X′representation in a user B customized section, channel or feed (136)designed to display data object representations new to user B on thesystem (137); and likewise, if user A has additional followers, e.g.,users C and D, the system displays derivative data object X′representation in a user C customized channel or feed and a user Dcustomized channel or feed, respectively. If an additional associationis added to the global tracking database related to user A and/or dataobject X′, the system identifies those additional associations globaltracking database (138) and displays any updates to the dataset ofadditional associations in the New Channel.

An additional embodiment is depicted in FIG. 1( d) in which user A likesdata object X representation. As described above, in one specificembodiment of the system, the act of following a data objectrepresentation constitutes a system tracking preference that generates aderivative data object based on the followed data object, whereas likinga data object representation does not generate a system trackingpreference. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1( d), if user A likes dataobject X representation, that preference is associated with data objectX in the collective data object database and likewise, user A'spreference for data object X is stored in user A's profile (under theitem preferences data table (142)), but the system does not generate aderivative data object. An association between user A and data object Xis created and stored to the global tracking database and/or anadditional tracking database, which may be a component of the globaltracking database or a separate database in the system. The systemdisplays data object X representation (140) in one or more of user A'sGUI sections, channels, or feeds (141) as well as one or more sections,channels, or feeds of user A's followers.

A further data transfer and management embodiment is illustratedschematically in FIG. 1( e). If a user interfaces with the system via aweb page, mobile application, or other viewing mechanism and chooses toview his/her New Channel (143), the system retrieves a dataset of dataobjects previously displayed in the New Channel (144), queries thecollective data object database for objects not previously displayed inthe user's New Channel (145), generates a dataset of new data objects(146), deletes those data objects previously displayed or viewed on thesystem (147), and displays the dataset of new data objectrepresentations in the New Channel (148). If no new data objects areavailable in the collective data object database, the system displays amessage to the user via the GUI that the New Channel is empty (149). Inone embodiment, the system can determine whether a data objectrepresentation has been viewed by a user, e.g., by detecting viaJavaScript in the browser that the data object was displayed in the GUIand a message is sent to the server to instruct the system to remove thedata object from the New Channel data table. When the New Channel isrefreshed, that data object representation will no longer be displayed.Alternatively, the system may not detect actual “views” by a user inhis/her browser, but instead, simply maintain an inventory of dataobjects that have been presented in the New Channel and once presented,the reference to that data object is deleted from the New Channel datatable. In yet another alternative, the system can delete a reference toa data object within a selected time from first display in the NewChannel, e.g., within one week, one month, three months, etc.

A further illustration of one embodiment of data transfer and managementon the system is illustrated schematically in FIG. 1( f). User A (i)interfaces with the system on his GUI (104) and choses to follow dataobject X representation (130), a data object created by provider Z. Asdescribed above, provider Z is represented by a data table (112), whichincludes a profile (126) including provider Z's ID, provider Z's itemcatalog (113) (and each item in that catalog has a unique item ID), acontact, follower, and following data table (114), and an interestand/or category data table (115) which includes the interest and/orcategory IDs for each interest and/or category, as well as the uniqueitem IDs for each product in an interest and/or category of provider Z.When user A choses to follow data object X representation, thatpreference is (ii) stored in user A's data table (106), which includeshis user profile (107), including his user ID, his contact, follower,and following data table (110), and user A's preferences (109). Dataobject X, stored in the collective data object database (125) is used bythe system's filtering and analysis programs (105) to (iii) generate aderivative data object having identifier X′ (131). Derivative dataobject X′ is also stored in the collective data object database. Thesystem then (iv) creates an association between user A, data object X,and data object X′ (132) and that association is (v) stored in a globaltracking database (133) (also a component of element (105)). The systemthen surveys the global tracking database to (vi) generate the datasetof followers of user A on the system, i.e., users B, C, and D (134). Thesystem (vii) displays derivative data object X′ representation to thefollowers of user A, e.g., users B, C, and C in a B, C, and D customizedsection, channel or feed (149, 150, and 151, respectively) designed todisplay data object representations new to users B, C, and D,respectively, on the system.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1( c)-(f), the global tracking database providesa simple organizational structure that allows the system to identifyrelationships between data objects, users, providers, categories, etc.It allows the system to track an evolving network of relationshipsbetween data objects, users, providers, categories, etc. For example, asillustrated in FIG. 1( g), and in the examples described above, anassociation is created between user A, data object X, and derivativedata object X′ (132). The system then queries the global trackingdatabase for followers/followees of user A and identifies the dataset offollowers/followees of user A, users B, C, and D (168), associates thefollowers/followees of user A with the A-X-X′ association (169), andthen associates the followers/followees of user A, users B, C, and D,with derivative data object X′ (170). This iterative process is usedcontinuously as new associations are added to the global trackingdatabase.

An example of a data object and the accompanying data objectrepresentation is illustrated in FIG. 1( h). Data object X is a database(152), that includes an item ID (153), a title (154), item description(155), a price (156), optionally, an image and/or media (157), acommentary field (158), the provider ID (159), optionally, a category IDfor the category associated with the item (160), optionally, a hyperlinkto a website (161), e.g., a product website, a provider website, areseller/distributor website, etc., and one or more interactions (orinteraction data) (171) one or more users and/or providers on the systemhave had with that data object. As described above, the one or moreinteractions can include but are not limited to: viewing the data objectrepresentation, expressing a preference for the data objectrepresentation, commenting on the data object representation, initiatinga conversation regarding the data object representation and therebycreating a conversation data object representation, participating in adialog regarding the data object representation, offering an opinionregarding the data object representation, providing a rating for thedata object representation, clicking through the data objectrepresentation to view additional details, clicking through the dataobject representation to view first brand-hosted information,participating in a survey regarding the data object representation,requesting further information from a brand regarding the data objectrepresentation, buying a commercial item displayed in the data objectrepresentation from a third-party retailer/reseller, buying a commercialitem displayed in the data object representation directly from thebrand, buying a commercial item displayed in the data objectrepresentation from an individual, participating in an auction regardingthe data object representation, offering a commercial item displayed inthe data object representation for free, loan, sale, lease, and/orrental, requesting to purchase a commercial item displayed in the dataobject representation, requesting that a discontinued commercial itemdisplayed in the data object representation is re-introduced by thebrand and/or an authorized retailer/reseller thereof, suggesting to thebrand product ideas, improvements, and/or corrections regarding the dataobject representation, or combinations thereof.

The system extracts the data contained in the data object to generate adata object X representation (162), including a title (163), itemdescription (164), a price (165), an image and/or media (166), acommentary field (167), optionally, a hyperlink to a website, e.g., aproduct website, a provider website, a reseller/distributor website,etc. (not shown), and one or more interactions with the data objectrepresentation (172). The data object representation can include lessthan the full dataset contained in the database, e.g., omitting a visualrepresentation of the item ID, provider ID, and category ID.

As described herein in reference to FIG. 1( h), each data objectincludes interaction data for that data object. The system also includesa global interaction data database that stores all interaction data foreach data object in the collective data object database. The globalinteraction data database can be a subcomponent of the global trackingdatabase or a separate database maintained on the system. The systemuses the interaction data stored in the global interaction data databaseto generated marketing data for providers that participate on thesystem, as described herein. In specific example, if data object Xrepresentation has been liked 10 times and user A indicates that he alsolikes data object X representation, then the number of users on thesystem that have liked data object X representation will be increase to11. If user A un-likes data object X representation, the number of usersliking data object X representation is reduced to 10. For the purpose ofreporting usage statistics and other analytics to a provider, the systemrecords the number of interactions with the data object, e.g., in thisspecific example, the total number of likes the data object Xrepresentation has ever received on the system (11), together with thetotal number of un-likes the data object X representation has receivedon the system (1), such that the current like count is 10, which is thenumber of likes displayed in field (172) of the data object Xrepresentation. Each interaction with a data object representation isrecorded separately in the global interaction data database along withthe user ID of the user who interacted with the data objectrepresentation and the date that it occurred. This enables the system todisplay statistics to the providers and to do time-series analysis ofthe user activity.

In one specific example, if a provider would like to understand howusers are interacting with a data object representation, the system canquery the global interaction data database for the set of interactionstaken by users on the system regarding that data object representation.The set of interactions generated by the system will include the numberof comments, ratings, likes, shares, followers, etc. associated withthat data object. The set of interactions will also include the clickthrough rate of the data object, the number of purchases associated withthat data object, etc. The provider can also compare the interactiondata set related to a particular data object relative to other dataobjects in the provider's catalog, a competitor provider's catalog, dataobjects in the same product category as the particular data object, etc.These and other marketing analytics, described in more detail below, canbe explored using the interaction data associated with a data object andstored in the global interaction data database.

Another embodiment of data transfer and management on the system isillustrated schematically in FIG. 13( a). In this alternativeembodiment, user A accesses the system via a web page (1301), mobileapplication view (1302), or other viewing mechanism (1303), and forexample, chooses to follow a provider data object X (1304) (available inthe provider profile (1305)). The system creates an association betweenuser A and data object X (1306) and that association is stored in theglobal tracking database (1307). Therefore, in this specific example,the association that is created includes the following data: user A anddata object X. Unlike the example described above, the system creates anassociation between user A and data object X, but a derivative dataobject X′ is not created in response to user A's decision to follow dataobject X. The system then surveys the global tracking database for thedataset of followers of user A on the system, i.e., users B, C, and D(1308). If user A has no followers, data object X representation isdisplayed in one or more user A customized sections, channels or feeds,e.g., a section, channel and/or feed related to recent user A activitieson the system (1309). If user A has a follower, e.g., user B, the systemdisplays data object X representation in a user B customized section,channel or feed (1310) designed to display data object representationsnew to user B on the system; and likewise, if user A has additionalfollowers, e.g., users C and D, the system displays data object Xrepresentation in a user C customized channel or feed and a user Dcustomized channel or feed, respectively. If an additional associationis added to the global tracking database related to user A and/or dataobject X, the system identifies those additional associations in theglobal tracking database and displays any updates to the dataset ofadditional associations in the New Channel.

An additional embodiment is depicted in FIG. 13( b) in which user Agenerates a conversation data object based on a source data object Xrepresentation. In this embodiment, if user A generates a conversationdata object X based on a source data object X representation (1311), thesystem creates a conversation data object X (1312), which is stored tothe collective data object database (1313), and an association iscreated between user A, the source data object X, and the conversationdata object X (1314). The association between user A, data object X, andconversation data object X is created and stored to the global trackingdatabase (1307) and/or an additional tracking database, which may be acomponent of the global tracking database or a separate database in thesystem. The system then surveys the global tracking database for thedataset of followers of user A on the system, i.e., users B, C, and D(1308). If user A has no followers, conversation data object Xrepresentation is displayed in one or more user A customized sections,channels or feeds, e.g., a section, channel and/or feed related torecent user A activities on the system (1309). If user A has a follower,e.g., user B, the system displays conversation data object Xrepresentation in a user B customized section, channel or feed (1315)designed to display data object representations new to user B on thesystem; and likewise, if user A has additional followers, e.g., users Cand D, the system displays conversation data object X representation ina user C customized channel or feed and a user D customized channel orfeed, respectively.

Additional details regarding conversation data objects and how they arestored and displayed in the system are depicted in FIG. 13( c). In thisembodiment, if user B, a follower of user A, comments on a conversationdata object X (1316), then the conversation data object X representationis modified to include user B's comment (1317), and that modified formof conversation data object X is stored in the collective data objectdatabase (1313). In one specific embodiment, the action of starting aconversation about a data object generates a conversation data object,but participating in a conversation about a conversation data object,adding one or more comments to a conversation data object and/orresponding to one or more comments in a conversation data objectmodifies the original conversation data object but participating in aconversation does not generate a new conversation data object. Anassociation is generated between user B, the source data object X, andthe conversation data object X (1318) and that association is stored inthe global tracking database (1307). The system then surveys the globaltracking database for the dataset of followers of user B on the system,i.e., users C and D (1319). If user B has no followers, conversationdata object X representation is displayed in one or more user Bcustomized sections, channels or feeds, e.g., a section, channel and/orfeed related to recent user B activities on the system (1320). If user Bhas a follower, e.g., user C, the system displays conversation dataobject X representation in a user C customized section, channel or feed(1321) designed to display data object representations new to user C onthe system; and likewise, if user B has additional followers, e.g., userD, the system displays conversation data object X representation in auser D customized channel or feed.

As shown in FIG. 13( d), it is possible for more than one user of thesystem to converse about a data object. In this embodiment, users A andC each start an independent conversation regarding source data object Xrepresentation (1322 and 1323, respectively), and the system generatestwo conversation data objects X based on the actions of users A and C onthe system, i.e., user A conversation data object X (1324 a) and user Cconversation data object X (1324 b). An association is generated betweenuser A, the source data object X, and the user A conversation dataobject X (1325) and that association is stored in the global trackingdatabase (1307); and an association is also generated between user C,data object X, and user C conversation data object X (1326) and thatassociation is also stored in the global tracking database. The systemthen surveys the global tracking database for the dataset of followersof users A and C on the system (1327 and 1328, respectively). If users Aand C have no followers, user A conversation data object X and user Cconversation data object X are each separately displayed in one or moreuser A and C customized sections, channels or feeds, respectively, e.g.,a section, channel and/or feed related to recent user A and C activitieson the system (1329 and 1330, respectively). If users A and C have oneor more followers, the system displays user A conversation data object Xrepresentation and user C conversation data object X representation inthose followers customized section, channel or feed (1331) designed todisplay data object representations new to that additional user on thesystem.

A further illustration of one embodiment of data transfer and managementon the system is illustrated schematically in FIG. 13( e). User A (i)interfaces with the system on his GUI (1332) and choses to follow dataobject X representation (1333), a data object created by provider Z. Asdescribed above, provider Z is represented by a data table (1334), whichincludes a profile (1335) including provider Z's ID, provider Z's itemcatalog (1336) (and each item in that catalog has a unique item ID), acontact, follower, and following data table (1337), and an interestand/or category data table (1338) which includes the interest and/orcategory IDs for each interest and/or category, as well as the uniqueitem IDs for each product in an interest and/or category of provider Z.When user A choses to follow data object X representation, thatpreference is (ii) stored in user A's data table (1339), which includeshis user profile (1340), including his user ID, his contact, follower,and following data table (1341), and user A's preferences (1342). Thesystem then (iii) creates an association between user A and data objectX (1343) and that association is (iv) stored in a global trackingdatabase (1307) (also a component of element (105)). The system thensurveys the global tracking database to (v) generate the dataset offollowers of user A on the system, i.e., users B, C, and D (1344). Thesystem (vii) displays data object X representation to the followers ofuser A, e.g., users B, C, and C in a B, C, and D customized section,channel or feed (1345, 1346, and 1347, respectively) designed to displaydata object representations new to users B, C, and D, respectively, onthe system.

An example of a conversation data object and the accompanyingconversation data object representation is illustrated in FIG. 13( f).Much like the data object depicted in FIG. 1( h), conversation dataobject X is a database (1348), that includes an item ID (1349), a title(1350), item description (1351), a price (1352), optionally, an imageand/or media (1353), a commentary field (1354), the provider ID (1355),optionally, a category ID for the category associated with the item(1356), optionally, a hyperlink to a website (1357), e.g., a productwebsite, a provider website, a reseller/distributor website, etc., andone or more interactions (or interaction data) (1358) one or more usersand/or providers on the system have had with that data object. Theconversation data object X database also includes the user ID of theuser that created the conversation data object (1359). Interactions arestored in the system as associations between the conversation dataobject and the user interacting with the conversation data objectrepresentation. As described above, the one or more interactions caninclude but are not limited to: viewing the conversation data objectrepresentation, expressing a preference for the conversation data objectrepresentation, commenting on the conversation data objectrepresentation, participating in a dialog regarding the conversationdata object representation, offering an opinion regarding theconversation data object representation, providing a rating for theconversation data object representation, clicking through theconversation data object representation to view additional details,clicking through the conversation data object representation to viewfirst brand-hosted information, participating in a survey regarding theconversation data object representation, requesting further informationfrom a brand regarding the conversation data object representation,buying a commercial item displayed in the conversation data objectrepresentation from a third-party retailer/reseller, buying a commercialitem displayed in the conversation data object representation directlyfrom the brand, buying a commercial item displayed in the conversationdata object representation from an individual, participating in anauction regarding the conversation data object representation, offeringa commercial item displayed in the conversation data objectrepresentation for free, loan, sale, lease, and/or rental, requesting topurchase a commercial item displayed in the conversation data objectrepresentation, requesting that a discontinued commercial item displayedin the conversation data object representation is re-introduced by thebrand and/or an authorized retailer/reseller thereof, suggesting to thebrand product ideas, improvements, and/or corrections regarding theconversation data object representation, or combinations thereof.

The system extracts the data contained in the conversation data objectto generate a conversation data object X representation (1360),including a title (1361) and one or more of the following optionalfields: the item description (1362), a price (1363), an image and/ormedia (1364), a commentary field (1365), a hyperlink to a website, e.g.,a product website, a provider website, a reseller/distributor website,etc. (not shown), and one or more interactions with the data objectrepresentation (1366). The conversation data object representation caninclude less than the full dataset contained in the database, e.g.,omitting a visual representation of the item ID, provider ID, andcategory ID. A conversation data object representation can alsooptionally include a visual indicator in the representation todistinguish the conversation data object from a source data object,e.g., a text box surrounding the item image (1367), as well as arepresentation of the user who created the conversation data object(1368) and a subtitle that indicates the context of the conversationthat is the subject of the data object representation (1368). In onespecific embodiment, a conversation data object representation includesa title that refers to the item represented by the conversation dataobject, a representation of the user who created the conversation dataobject, and a subtitle that indicates the context of the conversationrepresented by the conversation data object representation.

Consumer-User Profile & Interface

A consumer-user can use the system without signing in, specifying anyitem/brand preferences and/or interests, or providing any personalinformation. In this embodiment, the system allows an unregisteredconsumer-user to view the content of the system, but an unregisteredconsumer-user's access can be limited to unrestricted functions of thesystem, e.g., the unregistered consumer-user can search the collectivebrand data table and/or a specific brand data table, view item and/orbrand details (item or brand data object representations, respectively),view consumer-user and brand-user activity as it is occurring across allof the users, etc., while a registered consumer-user can create one ormore item and/or brand lists, follow one or more items, brands and/orindividuals in the system, etc.

In a preferred embodiment, a consumer-user creates a profile on thesystem that includes a consumer-user profile comprising his/her name,email, password, and optionally one or more additional fields, e.g.,address, telephone number, sex, date of birth, approximate individual orhousehold income, employment information, a reference to a separatesocial networking website, age verification information, e.g., driver'slicense number or another form of personal identification, nickname(s),avatar, place of birth, occupation, hobbies, alma mater(s), maritalstatus, the age and identity of one or more relatives, etc. A method ofcreating a profile on the system is illustrated in FIG. 2( a). Anunregistered consumer-user accesses the system (201) and optionally, isgiven the opportunity to explore the system by viewing a systemdemonstration (202). If the consumer-user elects to view thedemonstration, the system displays the demonstration to the user (203)and redirects the user to the initial landing page for an unregistereduser (201). In addition, the consumer-user is given the option to viewthe various brands that participate in the system (204), optionallydirecting the system to display a searchable brand listing (205), and/orthe consumer-user can simply search the collective brand data table forbrands that participate in the system. The consumer-user is given theopportunity to create a profile on the system (206), and if selected,the system displays a sign-up screen (209) that includes information thesystem will use to identify that consumer-user (210).

In one embodiment, the profile creation process includes collectinginformation from a consumer-user regarding his/her interests in one ormore interest categories, as well as, e.g., his/her hobbies, occupation,etc. FIG. 3( a) illustrates one method of creating a profile on thesystem. FIG. 3( a) is an example of a profile creation screen. Themodule displays a series of interests (301) and the consumer-userselects those interests he/she prefers. The module can then display aseries of brands that fall within the interest categories selected andthe consumer-user can de-select brands within that interest category inwhich the consumer-user is not interested (302) (FIG. 3( b)). Likewise,the module can display avatars of people the consumer-user is followingonce the consumer-user links the system to his/her contacts in a socialnetworking site, and the consumer-user can de-select those people he/shedoes not wish to follow on the system (not shown). Moreover, the modulecan display one or more lists the consumer-user may wish to create inview of his/her interests and the consumer-user can de-select thoselists he/she does not wish to populate on the system and/or create newlists he/she wants to populate on the system (FIG. 3( c)).

FIG. 3( d) is a schematic illustration of how a consumer-user can createa profile on the system. In one embodiment, the consumer-user signs intoa social networking site (303) and he/she is directed to a system signin screen (304). The consumer-user is prompted to enter his/her socialnetwork login credentials (305) and the system connects (306) with thesocial network (307) to confirm that the credentials are valid (308). Ifthe credentials are not valid, the system prompts the consumer-user tologin without using his/her social network credentials. If thecredentials are valid, the system queries the collective consumer datatable (309, 310) to confirm that consumer-user has an existing profileon the system (311). If the consumer-user has an existing profile (312),the system displays the consumer-user landing page for that profile(313) based on information drawn from the consumer-user profile datatable (314). If the consumer-user does not have an existing profile, thesystem creates a new profile on the system for that consumer-user andstores profile information in a consumer profile data table for thatconsumer-user. The system presents a consumer-user with one or morelistings of brands and/or item categories for the consumer-user toselect his/her favorites, as described above in reference to FIGS. 3(a)-(c) (315), and information regarding brands, brand categories, items,and item categories, presented at this stage of the process is suppliedby the collective brand data table (316). The system also includes afeature that facilitates favorite selection (317), known as a favoritewizard (318), and described below. The consumer-user selects favoritebrands and item categories (319), as well as optional subcategories (notshown), and the system draws information for this process from thecollective brand data table (320), saving the results in the consumerbrand preferences data table for that consumer-user (321). At theconclusion of this process, a consumer-user profile is created (322).

Once a consumer-user expresses a preference for a data object, thesystem software determines which consumer-users GUIs, channels or feedsthe data object should be displayed in by querying the followee/followerrelationships stored in the collective consumer data table, individualconsumer-data tables, collective brand data table, and/or individualbrand data tables. For example, if consumer-user Bob follows Brand Yshoes on the system and Brand Y adds a new shoe data object, the systemwill query the collective consumer data table, individual consumer-datatables, collective brand data table, and/or individual brand data tablesto look for a preference Bob has expressed in Brand Y shoes so that thenew shoe data object is displayed in one or more sections, channels, orfeeds of Bob's consumer-user GUI. The system will copy a reference tothe data object into the appropriate pre-defined or customized channelor feed data tables and a consumer-user associated with each pre-definedor customized channel will see the new data object upon the next refreshof the channel or feed GUI. Moreover, for the channels or feeds designedto display data object representations not previously viewed by aconsumer-user (e.g., “New Channel”), after the system has determinedthat a data object has been viewed by a given consumer-user and/orpreviously presented by the system to the consumer-user in his/her GUI,the system will remove the data object from the New Channel by deletingthe reference from the New Channel data table. In one embodiment, thesystem can determine whether the data object has been viewed by aconsumer-user, e.g., by detecting via JavaScript in the browser that thedata object was displayed in the consumer-user's GUI and a message issent to the server to instruct the system to remove the data object fromthe New Channel data table. When the New Channel is refreshed, that datatile will no longer be displayed. Alternatively, the system may notdetect actual “views” by a consumer-user in his/her browser, butinstead, simply maintain an inventory of data objects that have beenpresented in the New Channel and once presented, the reference to thatdata object is deleted from the New Channel data table. In yet anotheralternative, the system can delete a reference to a data object within aselected time from first display in the New Channel, e.g., within oneweek, one month, three months, etc.

FIG. 3( e) illustrates the favorite wizard (318) referenced above. Thefavorite wizard presents the consumer-user a view of all interestcategories (319), based on information drawn from the collective branddata table (320). The consumer-user selects favorite interest categories(321) and optionally, subcategories (322) and those selections are savedto the consumer profile (323). The system optionally presents one ormore fields regarding optional information (324), e.g., concerning theconsumer-user's occupation, average household income, home ownership,purchasing responsibilities, children, marital status, etc., that can beused by the system to generate item/brand suggestions. If theconsumer-user elects to include the optional information in the profile,he/she inputs the information (325), which is saved to the consumerprofile (323). The system optionally generates additional interestcategory and/or brand suggestions (327) based on the optionalinformation provided by the consumer-user and information contained inthe collective brand data table (326), and the consumer-user selectsfrom the additional suggestions (328) to generate a profile stored tothe consumer-user profile (323).

In an additional embodiment, the favorite wizard can also compare theconsumer-user's profile information, e.g., age range, sex, andinterests, to item and/or brand selections of comparable consumer-userson the system, and the system displays suggestions based on thatcomparison. For example, if a consumer-user is a male, age 45, with aninterest in golf, the system will survey the item/brand preferences ofadditional male consumer-users on the system within the same age rangethat have also expressed an interest in golf, and display items and/orbrands the additional consumer-users have selected as suggestedfavorites.

The following example serves to illustrate the profile creation systemdescribed above and illustrated in FIGS. 3( a)-(e): the consumer-useridentifies one or more preferred interest categories, e.g., sports andoutdoors, and the system displays one or more preferred interestsubcategories, e.g., within the category of sports and outdoors, theconsumer-user can specify an interest in team sports, exercise andfitness, outdoor recreation, athletic and outdoor clothing, etc. Foreach additional interest category selected, the consumer-user canoptionally select interest subcategories, e.g., within the category oftoys, the consumer-user can specify an interest in video games, dolls,and/or construction toys, and within the category of small consumerelectronics, the consumer-user can specify an interest in cameras,telephones, and/or radios. Each preferred interest subcategory can befurther categorized into additional subcategories, e.g., within thesubcategory of cameras, the consumer-user can specify an interest indigital cameras, SLRs, and camcorders, etc. The system can include oneor more predefined interest categories and subcategories and/or theconsumer-user can define consumer-user-specific interest categories andsubcategories. As described above, each category (and subcategory)comprises a unique ID and products and/or brands associated with thatcategory also comprise a unique ID. Therefore, if a consumer-userexpresses a preference for a particular category of products on thesystem, an association is made by the system between the user ID and thecategory ID, and the system then uses that association to identify itemIDs included in that category and display those item IDs to the user.Hence, the system matches the unique user IDs, category IDs and item IDswithin that category to generate a tailored subset of data objectsmatching his/her preferences.

Once the consumer-user has selected an interest category and/or one ormore subcategories, the selection screen is updated to displayrepresentative brands that participate in the system that arecategorized within the interest categories and/or subcategorieshighlighted by the consumer-user. In one embodiment, a brand can pay anadditional fee to be prominently displayed in the selection screen,e.g., to be displayed in the first grouping of representative brandsthat are categorized within a selected interest category (this is anexample of one way of “featuring” an item which is described in moredetail below). The interest category selection step can be updated atany time during the selection process by the consumer-user. The variousrepresentative brands can be shown in the selection screen using theindividual brand logo or the field can include a list of brands by brandname. The consumer-user can select and/or de-select one or more brandsfrom the lists provided in the profile set-up, i.e., to select favoritebrands and/or to remove brands the consumer-user does not want to browseon the system. Alternatively, the consumer-user need not select and/orde-select any brands from the lists provided in the profile set-up whichallows the consumer-user to view information from all brands categorizedwithin the general interest categories/subcategories selected by theconsumer-user. For example, the consumer-user can specify an interest inwomen's clothing of any brand or of a particular designer. In addition,the consumer-user can de-select women's clothing made by a particularmanufacturer which would inform the system to filter the consumer-user'sresults to remove that manufacturer from the consumer-user's view. Stillfurther, the consumer-user can refresh all or part of the brandselection process at any time during profile set-up.

In addition or alternatively, the consumer-user can also select one ormore brands during the profile set-up without any reference to aparticular interest category. In this embodiment, the system presents alist of brands that participate in the system and the consumer-userselects those brands in which he/she has an interest. The list of brandscan be displayed to the consumer-user in any order, e.g., alphabeticalor divided into one or more interest categories. The consumer-user canalso provide information regarding which items/brands the consumer-useralready owns or has experience with in order to allow the system tofilter the results of a brand's item offerings to eliminate items/brandsthe consumer-user already owns. In this regard, the system can providetargeted shopping results including items that are new to a givenconsumer-user, albeit not necessarily a newly released item on thesystem or in the general marketplace.

The system can collect additional information from a consumer-user thatmay better inform the system regarding the consumer-user's shoppingpreferences. For example, the system can collect information regardingoccupation, income, home ownership, whether the consumer-user isprimarily responsible for the household shopping, and whether he/she hasany children and their approximate age ranges. Information about whetherthe consumer-user is primarily responsible for household shoppingbecause while the consumer-user may not have an interest in householditems, as the primary household shopper, he/she will nevertheless beinterested in items related to housewares, cleaning supplies, etc.,e.g., goods and services associated with maintaining a household (aconsumer-user can also chose not to provide this information if he/sheis not interested in receiving information about such items). Similarly,information about the number of children the consumer has may inform thesystem and/or a brand that the consumer's interests may extend to itemsfor children, e.g., clothing and toys, although the consumer-user hasnot necessarily expressed an interest in those items at another stage ofthe profile creation process (a consumer-user can also chose not toprovide this information if he/she is not interested in receivinginformation about such item). These optional categories of additionalinformation can be added to the user's profile to extend the scope ofdata objects the system can display to the user.

The consumer-user can also include a list of one or more contacts inhis/her profile. The contacts need not be consumer-users of the system.In a preferred embodiment, one or more of the consumer-user's contactsare also consumer-users (“additional consumer-users”) of the system. Inone embodiment, a consumer-user's contact data table is populated byimporting one or more contacts of a consumer-user's contact data tableof a social networking website. Alternatively or additionally, thecontact data table can be populated by importing one or more contacts ofa consumer-user's contact data table of an email exchange system. In oneembodiment, the contact data table includes a list of individuals and/orbrands followed by the consumer-user and/or those brands and/orindividuals that follow the consumer-user. Alternatively, theconsumer-user profile can include a follow/follower data table thatincludes a list of individuals and/or brands followed by theconsumer-user and/or those brands and/or individuals that follow theconsumer-user and the follower/follower data table is separated from thecontact data table.

The system can allow a consumer-user to manage interactions withcontacts or contacts on a social networking site via the system, e.g.,to browse and search all users of the system that participate in aparticular social networking site, to invite other system users tobecome contacts via a social networking site, to accept and/or rejectfriend invitations via the system, delete contacts or contacts from acontacts or contacts list on the system, to send a private message toone or more contacts or contacts in their network via the system, toblock communications from a contact in their network over the system,and/or to report a friend's or contact's misconduct on the system to asystem administrator. Moreover a consumer-user can view their contactlist in a grid or list format, sort their contacts or contacts listalphabetically by first or last name, perform keyword (or name)searching on a contacts or contacts list, group contacts or contacts inone or more lists, and filter a contacts or contacts list to display allcontacts or contacts, those recently added and/or with updated profiles,etc., and add a contacts from a contacts list to one or more preferredlists, e.g., a gift list and/or a watch list.

In addition, the consumer-user can also create one or more lists inhis/her consumer-user profile populated by his/her preferred interests,items and/or brands. Each individual consumer profile includes one ormore additional data tables including a consumer-user's purchasingpreferences, e.g., brand preferences, item preferences, and interestcategories. The one or more additional data tables can include one ormore item lists organized in any manner defined by the consumer-user.For example, a consumer-user can create one or more lists, including butnot limited to: desired items, owned items, used items, preferred items,items identified by a consumer for a third party, items viewed by theconsumer, items shared or commented on by the consumer with a contact,items shared or commented on by a contact with a consumer, and allitems, as well as one or more brand lists (also organized in any mannerdefined by the consumer-user), including but not limited to: desiredbrands, owned brands, used brands, preferred brands, brands identifiedby the consumer for a third party, brand data object representationsshared or commented on by the consumer with a friend, brand data objectrepresentations shared or commented on by a friend with the consumer,and all brands.

For example, the consumer-user can create one or more lists of items forspecific reasons, e.g., a wish list, gift list, birthday list and/orholiday list. As used herein, a wish list is a list of item/brandsdesired by a consumer-user, while a gift list is a list of items/brandsthe consumer-user may want as a gift for a third party. A birthday listand holiday list are each examples of specialized gift lists that can becreated for a specific occasion. In one embodiment, the consumer-usercan grant access to one or more lists in his/her consumer-user profileto one or more contacts. For example, the consumer-user can grant afriend access to a limited number of the lists in his or her profile,e.g., only his/her wish or gift list, or one or more of his/her contactscan be granted full access to all of his/her lists. In this regard, theaccess granted to a friend can be view-only access or the friend can begranted permission by the consumer-user to comment on one or more of theitems in the consumer-user's lists. For example, if the consumer-usercreates a wish list for a given event, e.g., a wedding or baby registry,he/she can grant access to that registry to one or more contacts, andthe contacts can be permitted to indicate whether they purchased one ormore items on the registry, optionally identifying themselves by name.Still further, the consumer-user profile can also include a list ofitems and/or brand pages available on the system bookmarked by theconsumer-user and one or more contacts can be granted access to theconsumer-user's bookmarks.

For an item and/or brand data object representation, a consumer-user canprovide a comment, write a review and/or rate the item or brand. Acomment from one user to another regarding a brand or item can be aboutany subject, including but not limited to, a suggestion to purchase thatitem for oneself or an individual, an indication that one user likes ordislikes the item, an indication that one user would like to purchase anitem from another user, etc. The following attributes for the item/brandrating and reviews can be included by the consumer-user in his/hercomment and/or review: consumer-user name or anonymous rating, commentor review date, rating (e.g., on a scale of one to five stars or anotherrating system created by the system), and comment and/or review text. Ina preferred embodiment, the consumer-user can provide a comment on anitem and/or data object representation and contacts of the consumer-usercan do the same. A brand can also include a comment on an item and/orbrand data object representation. Because the filtering program isconfigured to select that information relevant to an individualconsumer-user on the system, only those comments supplied by a contact,follower, and/or one followed by the specific consumer-user and/or by abrand in which that consumer-user has expressed an interest aredisplayed in the data object representation for that item and/or brandas it appears in that specific consumer-user's interface.

In addition, as described above, a consumer-user can also interact witha data object representation as follows: viewing one or more data objectrepresentations, expressing a preference, commenting on one or more dataobject representations and/or derivative data object representations,participating in a dialog regarding one or more data objectrepresentations or derivative data object representations, offering anopinion, providing a rating, clicking through one or more data objectrepresentations to view additional details, clicking through one or moredata object to view first brand-hosted information, participating in asurvey, requesting further information, buying a commercial itemdisplayed in one or more data object representations from a third-partyretailer/reseller, buying a commercial item displayed in one or moredata object representations of the subset directly from the brand,buying a commercial item displayed in one or more data objectrepresentations from an individual, participating in an auction,offering a commercial item displayed in one or more data objectrepresentations in the subset for free, loan, sale, lease, and/orrental, requesting to purchase a commercial item displayed in one ormore data object representations, requesting that a discontinuedcommercial item displayed in one or more data object representations inthe subset is re-introduced by the first brand and/or an authorizedretailer/reseller thereof, suggesting to the first brand product ideas,improvements, and/or corrections regarding one or more data objectrepresentations in the subset, removing a data object representationfrom one or more lists (“de-listing”), sharing a data objectrepresentation with an individual or group, e.g., emailing the dataobject representation (or a hyperlink to the data object), including ahyperlink for that data object on a social networking system, etc.,“un-liking” a data object, e.g., removing that data objectrepresentation from the list of liked data object representations in aconsumer-user's profile, “un-friending”, e.g., removing that data objectrepresentation from the list of “friends” in a consumer-user's profile,or combinations thereof.

Once the consumer-user creates a consumer-user profile and an systemprofile, the information provided by the consumer-user is formatted bythe network to create a consumer-user GUI or consumer-user landing page(or a “home page”) that is tailored to the consumer-user's profile. Onenon-limiting example of a consumer-user GUI landing page is depicted inFIGS. 4( a)-(f). The GUI includes a header (401) that includes a searchfield (402) and an optional consumer avatar (403) that identifies theconsumer-user GUI as one that has been customized by the system for theconsumer represented by that avatar (in an alternative embodiment, theconsumer avatar can be replaced by a username field (not shown)). Aseries of data object representations are shown in FIG. 4( a) (404) anda more detailed view of a data object representation is shown in FIG. 4(b), wherein that data object representation includes a selectable commonvisual representation of an item, including an item image (405), a title(406), a price (407), and a commentary field (408), including commentsfrom contacts or followers of the individual consumer-user, includingthe brand that supplies the item depicted in the data objectrepresentation (409), as well as a field that can be selected by theuser to add a comment to the commentary field (410). An additional itemdata object representation is depicted in 411, which includespromotional information related to an item or brand in which theconsumer-user has expressed an interest. The consumer-user interface canalso include an activity feed (412) which provides information regardingactivities the consumer-user has engaged in on the system and/oractivities of contacts or follows of the consumer-user. The activityfeed can be displayed in chronological, reverse chronological, randomorder, or a consumer-user defined order. In a preferred embodiment, theactivity feed is displayed in reverse chronological order. Each dataobject representation can also include icons (413-414) that theconsumer-user can select to indicate a preference for that data object(e.g., “like” (413) or “follow” (414) or to add a comment regarding thatdata object representation if a commentary field has not been added by afriend or follower of that consumer-user (415).

As noted above, each data object representation can be selected by aconsumer-user and the system displays additional information related tothat data object. An example of a more detailed view of a data objectrepresentation is shown in FIG. 4( c). The detailed view includes one ormore item image(s), an item title, an item price, a detailed descriptionof the item, purchasing options, and a commentary field, includingcomments from contacts of the individual consumer-user, including thebrand that supplies the item depicted in the data object, as well as afield that can be selected by the user to add a comment to thecommentary field.

FIG. 4( d) illustrates one embodiment of a screen a consumer-user canaccess via the landing page (e.g., via a drop-down menu under theconsumer-user icon or username (not shown) to provide more detailregarding one or more lists the consumer-user has created in the system.Each list is represented by a data object representation (416), and thatdata object representation can include a name for that list (417) andoptionally one or more images of items included in that list (418).Another screen a consumer-user can access via the landing page is shownin FIG. 4( e), which includes more detail regarding one or moreindividuals and/or brands the consumer-user follows on the system and/orone or more individuals and/or brands that follow the consumer-user onthe system. Each individual or brand is represented by a data objectrepresentation (419) and the data object representation can include theindividual or brands name (420) and optionally, an avatar (421) or brandlogo or trademark (422). Moreover, the consumer-user can also access ascreen via the landing page that includes more detail regarding groupsof individuals and/or brands the consumer-user follows on the systemand/or one or more individuals and/or brands that follow theconsumer-user on the system (FIG. 4( f)). Each group of individuals orbrands is represented by a data object representation (423) and the dataobject representation can include the group name (424) and optionally,one or more avatars (425) or brand logos or trademarks (426).

As noted above, a consumer-user can interact with one or more contactson the system, e.g., by sharing items or brands with contacts orfollowers, by adding to and/or commenting on a data objectrepresentation, etc. In one specific embodiment, a consumer-user canalso use the system to solicit comments from one or more contacts orfollowers regarding one or more item or brand data objectrepresentations in which the consumer-user is interested. For example,if a consumer-user is considering a purchase of two or more items,he/she can share those item pages with one or more contacts or followersvia the system and ask those contacts or followers to vote for orotherwise comment on the item or brand he/she should purchase. In oneembodiment, the system offers a voting mechanism that can be sent viathe system from a consumer-user to one or more contacts or followers,and the voting mechanism enables the one or more contacts or followersto indicate which item or an item of a brand the consumer-user shouldpurchase. In addition, the voting mechanism also includes a field thatallows the one or more contacts or followers to comment on the itemofferings.

Likewise, the system displays items/brands in a variety of formats,including but not limited to, a grid, list, slide show, and/or carouselformat, and the system allows the consumer-user to page throughitems/brands in the display. The system can display the total number ofitems and/or the consumer-user can specify the number of items that canbe viewed on a given page. The system can display featured and/orunreleased items in a visually distinguishable way in the displayedformat from other items. In a slide show and/or carousel format, theconsumer-user can view the slide show in full- or partial screen mode.Any of the display formats include a feature to navigate from theselected view to the item details page, as well as, bookmarking an itemso as to create a redacted list of items to be viewed in detail at alater time. In addition, the slide show and/or carousel formats includesnavigation controls that enable the consumer-user to go to the beginningand end of the slide show, go forward and reverse one item page in theslide slow, continuously play and/or pause the slide show. Any of thedisplay formats can also provide a Quick View button over the item imagewhen the consumer-user moves his/her cursor/mouse over the item. TheQuick View can display a popup sub-display containing an abbreviatedlist of item details and the Quick View also enables the consumer-userto navigate from the Quick View to the full item display page.

In addition, any of the landing pages described herein can display asampling of information about additional consumer-users of the system,including but not limited to contacts, followers, celebrities, subjectmatter experts, and critics. In one embodiment, a consumer-user canselect the categories of additional consumer-users that the systemdisplays on the landing page. In addition, the consumer-user canidentify specific additional consumer-users he/she wants displayed onthe landing page, e.g., certain specific contacts, followers,celebrities, subject matter experts, and/or critics, or a select groupof contacts, followers, celebrities, and/or critics. Alternatively, thesystem can randomly select additional consumer-users that can bedisplayed on the landing page, e.g., in the absence of instructions fromthe consumer-user. For example, the system can randomly displayinformation regarding contacts or followers from the consumer-user'scontacts data table and the system can periodically rotate the displayof information regarding contacts from the contacts data table on thelanding page, e.g., changes can be implemented by the system each timethe consumer-user logs into the system, daily, weekly, monthly, etc.Similarly, the system can randomly display information regardingcelebrities, subject matter experts, and/or critics, e.g., celebrities,subject matter experts, and/or critics that have identified certainitems and/or brands identified by the consumer-user in his/herpreferences. The system can periodically rotate the display ofinformation regarding celebrities and/or critics on the landing page,e.g., changes can be implemented by the system each time theconsumer-user logs into the system, daily, weekly, monthly, etc.

The system can display a collection of featured items based on one ormore system criteria. For example, the system can display a collectionof items most viewed/searched by system consumer-users, ranked e.g., bya combination of criteria selected from the number of item pageviewings, the number of times the item page is added to a preferred itemlist by system consumer-users (e.g., a favorite, wish, watch, and/orgift list), the number of times the item page is bookmarked by systemconsumer-users, and/or consumer-user ratings for the item. The systemcan also display a collection of items having the highest ratingsprovided by system consumer-users. Moreover, the system can display acollection of items recommended by a consumer-user based on theconsumer-user's profile. Consumer-users can filter the results of theseitem collections, in ascending or descending order, based on one or moreof the following criteria: brand, price, average review, relevance to asearch criteria, release date, etc., and a consumer-user can display thecollection or a filtered view of the collection in a grid, list,carousel, or slide show presentation view.

The system can also display a list of all brands available on thesystem. The data table can be organized alphabetically and/or byinterest category/subcategory. Consumer-users can perform a keywordsearch of brands and items in the all brand data table and theconsumer-user can filter the brand data table and/or the results of akeyword search based on the following criteria: item/brand category,time, price, average customer review, relevance, release date, etc. Aconsumer-user can display the all brand data table or a filtered view ofthe data table in a grid, list, carousel, or slide show presentationview.

The system allows the consumer-user to search the site, including theitem/brand pages and all related content using keyword searches. Thesystem can segregate the search results by the following content types:brands, items, articles, reviews, blogs, etc. For each content type, thenumber of search results for that type are displayed and the searchresults for each content type are displayed in a list format. Thedisplay of brand search results can include a picture of the brand logo,the brand name, and a description of the brand, among other information.The consumer-user can view the brand's page by clicking on the brandlogo or the name of the brand. The display of item search results caninclude in or more of the following attributes: one or more item images,the item name, a description of the item, the price, average itemrating, and the number of ratings. The consumer-user can to view theitem details page for an item by clicking on either the item picture orthe item name. The display of results of searching within articles caninclude a picture of the author, if provided, the author name, the titleof the article, the date the article was written, and an introduction tothe article. The consumer-user can view the entire article by clickingon the title of the article. The display of results of searching withinitem reviews can include a picture of the item being reviewed, the nameof the item, the reviewer's name or alias, the date the review waswritten, and an introduction to the review. The consumer-user can viewthe entire review by clicking on the title of the review. The display ofresults of searching within blogs can include a picture or avatar of theblogger, the blogger's name or alias, the date the blog was written, theblog title, and an introduction to the blog. The consumer-user can viewthe entire blog by clicking on the title of the blog.

The system is configured to send consumer-users notifications regardingnew items/brands and/or new information about items and/or brands andthe consumer-user can receive such notifications via any of a variety ofmethods. In one embodiment, such notifications are modifications to itemor brand data objects, including derivative data objects, and thosemodified data object representations are displayed in the consumer-userGUI in reverse chronological order, as described above. In addition oralternatively, the system can also notify a consumer-user by email, textmessaging and/or private messaging. The system can also send anotification to a consumer-user in a social networking site, e.g.,Facebook, Twitter, Friendster, MySpace, etc. An additional systemconsumer-user or brand can send the consumer-user a variety ofnotifications, including but not limited to: (a) a consumer-user of thesystem can send an additional consumer-user a message regarding an item,an interest category, a brand, a brand category, etc.; (b) a brand cansend the consumer-user a message regarding new information related to anitem, the brand, an interest category, etc. and/or a brand can send theconsumer-user a message regarding a new item and/or category of itemsavailable (in a preferred embodiment, the brand can instruct the systemto send a group of consumer-users that have expressed a preference for abrand or brand item, rather than giving a brand access to individualconsumer-user's contact information); (c) a consumer-user can receive afriend invitation; (d) a consumer-user can receive a notification thatanother consumer-user and/or brand has elected to follow thatconsumer-user; (e) a consumer-user can receive a notification regardinga friend's or follower's impending birthday, anniversary, or the like;(f) a consumer-user can receive an invitation to join the system and/orto join a brand or item club; (g) a consumer-user can receive anotification that a brand has been added to an additionalconsumer-user's preferred brand data table, e.g., a friend or followerof the consumer-user; (h) a consumer-user can receive a notificationthat an item category has been added to a friend's or follower'spreferred item data table; (i) a consumer-user can receive anotification that an item has been added to a friend's or follower'spreferred item data table; (j) a consumer-user can receive anotification that an item has been added to a friend's or follower'swish, watch, and/or gift list; and/or (k) a consumer-user can receive anotification that a friend or follower has commented on, posted an itemreview and/or blog entry for, and/or suggested an item and/or brand.Moreover, a consumer-user can filter the notifications they receive in avariety of ways, including but not limited to: (a) received from aparticular consumer-user; (b) received from a particular brand; (c)date; and (d) regarding a particular item/brand in the consumer-user'spreferred item/brand data table; in ascending or descending order.

It will be understood that the components described above can beorganized and depicted in a user-interface in a variety of ways, butsuch variations fall within the full scope of the invention. Moreover,various additional features can be included in the homepage, e.g.,advertising materials, featured items, brands, additionalconsumer-users, additional links to the consumer-user's profile, one ormore consumer data tables, additional system browsing features, etc.,and such additional features are within the full scope of the invention.

Brand Profile & Interface

Brands also create an system profile that includes brand information,including but not limited to the brand's name, contact information,website and a link thereto, email, and password, as well as a list ofauthorized brand-users of the brand profile. The brand can designate oneor more brand managers or users (referred to herein as “brand-users”),e.g., an individual or group of individuals authorized to access and/ormodify the brand profile or components thereof, and the brand profilewill also include contact information, e.g., a name and email, and apassword for each brand-user. A brand can also include a brandidentifying key or password used to identify the brand or a brand-userif one or more of verifiable credentials are not provided at login tothe system.

As shown in FIG. 5( a), in one embodiment, the brand establishes aprofile on the system using a designated brand name, a website URL, andoptionally one or more brand logos or trademarks and item lists. Muchlike the consumer-user's ability to create one or more lists, a brandcan also organize its items in one or more lists grouped by the brand,e.g., current, discontinued, new, sale, and future item lists.Optionally, a brand can create one or more brand interest categories(not shown), including a description for each interest category, or inan alternative or additional embodiment, the brand can adopt one or morebrand item categories created by the system to list the brand items onthe system. For each item, a brand can create a data object thatincludes the common visual representation of an item or brand describedabove, as shown in FIG. 5( b). The data object representation includesone or more of the following: an item name (501), a description (502),an image 5603), optional additional media (504), e.g., videos,additional images, supporting documentation, etc., interest categorieslists in which the item is included (505), one or more links topurchasing options (507), and a website URL for the brand (or authorizedretailer or reseller) that offers the item (508). Preferably, each dataobject on the system regardless of origin includes an item image, itemname, item price, and a commentary field (not shown; the commentaryfield is preferably automatically incorporated into the data object bythe system once the data object is created by the brand). If selected bya consumer-user, the data object representation will display additionalinformation regarding the item, e.g., a more detailed description of theitem, additional media, purchasing options, a website URL for the brand,item ratings, etc. Item information that can be included in an item dataobject includes but is not limited to: an item identifier, optional SKUand/or custom identifier, a description of the item, an item image, itemmedia (e.g., item-specific video and audio files as well as printmedia), retail price, shipping and handling information, sales, coupons,etc., advertising materials, item reviews and/or ratings, discussionforums, item-related news and events, instructions for use and/orassembly, associated/related items and/or accessories offered by thebrand and/or an associated brand, item statistics, the identity andcontact information for authorized retailers and/or resellers,authorized service providers for a given item or brand (e.g., for itemassembly or after-market detailing), etc., item-specific supportingdocuments and information, e.g., an item insert, specifications, manual,instructions, literature references, reviews, blog links, links todiscussion forums, etc., purchasing information including but notlimited to price, coupons or discounts offered by the manufacturer,authorized retailer and/or wholesaler, shipping and handlinginformation, the identity and contact information for an authorizedretailer, wholesaler, and/or distributor, warrantee information, etc. Ina specific embodiment, some of the information listed above for a givenitem may only be available to members of a brand or item club (describedin more detail herein). For example, certain promotional opportunitiesmay only be accessed by or offered to item and/or brand club members,e.g., coupons, discounts, etc.

Certain types of specialty items/brands may warrant the inclusion ofadditional information, including but not limited to,geographic-specific information related to authorizedretailers/resellers/service providers, shipping restrictions, seasonalavailability or other availability limitations or restrictions (e.g.,backorder), and suggested storage and handling information. For example,for brands that offer perishable food stuffs, e.g., produce, the brandcan include information related to the seasonal availability for a givenitem or group of items in a particular geographic location, specificauthorized retailers/resellers in a given city, state, etc., as well asany shipping restrictions that may apply and safe handling information.For brands that offer items that require an owner's license or permit,the brand can also include information related to where and/or how aconsumer-user can obtain the appropriate license and this informationcan differ from one geographic location to the next. The brand can alsoinclude a list and/or hyperlinks to a website of one or more licensingauthorities. In this embodiment, the system can include a mechanism toallow a brand to verify a consumer-user's license, age, etc., e.g., whenprompted for an item requiring license and/or age-restrictions, aconsumer-user can provide his/her license identification number, age,etc., and the system can verify the validity of the license and/or thatthe consumer-user has indicated an appropriate age.

In a preferred embodiment, a data object related to a commercial itemcan include one or more commercial item trademarks, commercial itemdescription information, commercial item media, commercial itempurchasing information, commercial item retail information, commercialitem promotional information, related first brand products, orcombinations thereof; the commercial item description information cancomprise an item image, one or more item-specific supporting documentsand information, one or more commercial item reviews, a commercial itemrating, or combinations thereof; the commercial item media may include acommercial item-specific video file, a commercial item-specific audiofile, or print media; and the commercial item-specific supportingdocuments and information comprises one or more literature references,reviews, blog link, press release, forum link, or combinations thereof.

In addition or alternatively, as described above, a consumer-user of thesystem can create an item data object using, for example, the processillustrated in FIG. 5( b) and described above.

A brand can also create a brand data object as shown in FIG. 5( c),which includes a brand name (509), brand description (510), brand logoor trademark (511), additional brand media (612), item lists (513),purchasing option links (514), and a website URL (515). The brand dataobject can also include one or more interest categories associated withthat brand (not shown). The purpose of a brand data object is distinctfrom that of an item data object in that the latter is designed toprovide the viewer with information about a single item, whereas a branddata object is designed to give the viewer general information about thebrand, e.g., the types of item or services they offer, their logos ortrademarks, where their items can be purchased, etc. The brand dataobject can be accessed via one or more hyperlinks on the system, e.g.,by selecting the brand name or brand icon under the list of brandsavailable on the system.

Much like an item data object, each brand data object on the systemregardless of origin includes an image, e.g., a brand logo or trademark,a brand name, and a commentary field (and like the item data object, thecommentary field is preferably automatically incorporated into the dataobject by the system once the data object is created by the brand). Ifselected by a consumer-user, the brand data object representation willdisplay additional information regarding the brand, e.g., a moredetailed description of the brand, additional media, purchasing options,a website URL for the brand, brand ratings, etc. Information that can beincluded in a brand data object includes but is not limited to: a listof brand items, brand media (e.g., video and audio files as well asprint media), sales, coupons, etc., advertising materials, item reviewsand/or ratings, discussion forums, brand-related news and events,associated brand(s), brand statistics, the identity and contactinformation for the brand and/or for authorized retailers and/orresellers, authorized service providers for a given item or brand, etc.,the identity and contact information for an authorized wholesaler and/ordistributor, warrantee information, etc. In a specific embodiment, someof the information listed above for a given brand may only be availableto members of a brand or item club (described in more detail herein).For example, certain promotional opportunities may only be accessed byor offered to item and/or brand club members, e.g., coupons, discounts,etc.

In a preferred embodiment, a brand data object can include: one or morebrand trademarks, one or more brand logos, one or more commercial itemlogos, brand description, interest categories associated with brand,brand media, brand purchasing information, retail information, brandpromotional information, information related brands within the brandportfolio, related brand description, related brand products, orcombinations thereof. The brand description information can include abrand image, one or more brand-specific supporting documents andinformation, one or more brand reviews, a brand rating, or combinationsthereof; brand media can include a brand-specific video file, abrand-specific audio file, or print media; brand-specific supportingdocuments and information can include one or more literature references,reviews, blog link, press release, forum link, or combinations thereof.

Alternatively or additionally, the brand has the option of creating astand-alone brand page that is directly accessible on the system via oneor more hyperlinks, e.g., by selecting the brand name or brand iconunder the list of brands available on the system.

The brand page optionally includes a brand banner a brand description,brand media (including but not limited video files and pictures, as wellas audio files, press releases, etc.), featured item categories,featured items, item lists, and avatars of one or more individuals thatlike the brand, e.g., celebrity endorsements or subject-matter expertsin the relevant field. The brand page can also be customized to includeadditional information, including but not limited to a listing of one ormore brand trademarks or service marks, brand retail information, branditem distributors, a brand description, brand media, brand items, abrand portfolio, etc. A brand page can be viewed by any consumer-user ofthe system, with a system profile or not, or the brand page can beconfigured to be viewed only by those consumer-users of the system thatfollow the brand or a brand item.

A brand can be a corporate brand, an umbrella brand, a family brand, andcombinations thereof, in which case, the brand can include one or morerelated brands (alternatively referred to herein as “brand associates”),e.g., an endorsed brand, a sub-brand, an individual item brand, andcombinations thereof. Therefore, the brand page can include additionalinformation regarding one or more brand associates. The branddescription can include but is not limited to, an item ontology, atarget market description, and combinations thereof. The brandinformation can further include advertising materials, brand reviewsand/or ratings, discussion forums, brand-related news and events, brandstatistics, the identity and contact information for authorizedretailers and/or resellers, authorized service providers (e.g., for itemassembly or after-market detailing), etc. The brand can includeliterature references, blog and/or discussion forum links, etc. Thebrand information can include brand media including but not limited tovideo files, audio files, print media and press releases. The brand pagecan be accessed via one or more hyperlinks on the system, e.g., byselecting the brand name or brand icon under the list of brandsavailable on the system.

A brand may opt to highlight certain promotional offers for an item orbrand by creating an item or brand data object that includes anindicator in the visual representation to reflect the fact that thatitem or brand is associated with a promotion, e.g., item data objects ofdiscontinued items can be displayed in different color scheme than thoseof non-discounted items, etc. Likewise, the data object representationsof new items recently created by the brand can include a color schemethat differentiates those data object representations from other dataobject representations on the system. If an item will be discounted inthe future, the brand can add a comment to the data objectrepresentation and/or alter the data object content to notifyconsumer-users interested in that item that it will soon be discounted.Data object representations of discounted or sale items can also includeicons designed to indicate the time and/or quantity remaining for thatdiscount or sale, e.g., a clock or time appears on the data object thatcounts down the remaining time for that discount or sale and/or countsdown the quantity of items available at that discounted price. In analternative or additional embodiment, a brand can also create aspecialized brand page focused on one or more item categories, e.g.,promotional, discontinued, new, sale, and/or future items.

Optionally, the system allows the brand to promote its items in variousways. For example, the brand can elect to allow the system to featurethe brand, which authorizes the system to prominently display brandadvertising and/or items in a featured items section of the GUI. Forexample, featured items can be displayed in a consumer-user's GUI ifhe/she has expressed interest in the corresponding interest category, ingeneral advertising for the system, in the profile set-up process asdescribed above, etc., and each of these methods of featuring an itemmay garner the same or a different fee. In one embodiment, the brandpays an extra fee for this service. Alternatively, the brand can competewith other brands on the system to be displayed in the featured brandssection of the system, e.g., by a competitive bidding process basede.g., on a bid offered by the brand in terms of a value of cost perclick. One or more mechanisms for featuring a brand or item can beprovided by the system and there can be an additional fee associatedwith each type of featuring mechanism, for a group of featuringmechanisms (e.g., for one price the brand can feature its items in avariety of ways), or for all featuring mechanisms offered by the system(e.g., for one price the brand can feature its item using all featuringmechanisms offered by the system).

The brand can also specify security settings that enable the brand tosegregate certain categories, data tables, and/or data tables ofinformation provided in the brand profile from view from consumer-usersof the system. For example, while item listings can be viewable by aconsumer-user of the system, brand profile, inventory, and supplyinformation may only be available to one or more designated brand users.Likewise, a brand can also specify security settings that enable thebrand to grant view only or full access of one or more brand-users tocertain categories, data tables, and/or data tables of informationprovided in the brand profile.

The creation of a brand profile on the system is further illustrated inFIG. 6( a). A brand creates a profile (601) and optionally views ademonstration of the system (602, 603). The system presents a sign-upscreen (605), which allows the brand administrator and/or an authorizedbrand user to enter pertinent information about the brand, e.g., parentcompany information, contact information, password information, etc.(606). The system creates a brand profile (607) which is stored to thecollective brand data table (not shown) in an individual brand datatable (608). The brand can add information to the profile regarding thebrand (609), e.g., the ability to define associated or related brands(610-613), associated items (614-615), and a budget for use of thesystem, e.g., for advertising and marketing on the system by the brand(616-617). This information is stored to the brand profile (618) in thebrand data table.

As shown in FIG. 6( b), a brand can also edit brand information in thebrand profile (620-621), include logos, associated images, and brandmedia (622), etc., which is stored to the brand data table. The brandcan optionally create a brand page (625) that can be edited to includebrand-defined content, websites, and media (626-628), which is alsostored to the brand data table (630). FIG. 6( c) shows that eachassociated brand (631) can also be defined as described above and thecontent of the associated brand profile can also be adjusted by thebrand administrator and/or an authorized brand-user and stored to thebrand data table. The brand-administrator and/or authorized brand-useralso has the ability to modify access of one or more additionalbrand-users of a brand profile, as illustrated in FIG. 6( d). The brandadministrator enters contact information for each authorized brand-userand the system creates credentials for that brand-user to enable thebrand-user to activate the profile and be associated in the system as anauthorized user for the brand (636-641). The identity and logininformation for each authorized brand-user is stored to the brand datatable (647). In addition, each brand-user activates his/her profile onthe system (642), by viewing an activation screen (643), and changingthe default system password (644). That information is stored to thesystem in the brand data table (645, 647).

A brand (and/or consumer-user) can create an item data object asillustrated in FIG. 6( e). The system queries the brand administratorand/or authorized brand-user for item information (753) and the user(brand-user if created by a brand or consumer-user if created by aconsumer-user) edits the item information (654-655), which is stored tothe brand data table (658). The system allows the brand to defineinterest categories and subcategories (649-651), which are stored to thebrand data table. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 6( f), a brand can definea budget for use of the system (659), which can be edited, furtherdefined, and stored to the brand data table (660-665).

In one embodiment, based on the information provided for the brandprofile, the system will configure a brand landing page that allowsconsumer-users to browse brand items, brand information, etc. The brandlanding page can be automatically configured by the system or customizedby the brand as described above, e.g., to display certain brandadvertising, banners, trademarks, service marks, etc., in a mannerdesignated by the brand. The brand landing page can display brand itemsor item categories randomly or based on item or category popularity (asdefined by item page viewings, item purchases, or another itemclassification mechanism). The brand landing page can include a brandclub link to a brand club website available only to members of the brandclub. The brand landing page can also display a random sample ofconsumer-users that have added their brand or a brand item to theirconsumer-user profile, if permitted by the consumer-user. In addition,the brand landing page can display one or more of the following: thenumber of consumer-users who have added the brand or a brand item totheir favorites, the number of consumer-users that have followed thebrand, the number of consumer-users and/or other brands the brandfollows, a list of its most popular items, a sample of its itemcategories, a hyperlink to the brand's website, a hyperlink to thebrand's club(s), and one or more advertisements for the brand and/or fora brand affiliate. It will be understood that the components describedabove can be organized and depicted in a brand page in a variety ofways, but such variations fall within the full scope of the invention.

In one embodiment, a brand can also create a brand and/or item club thatincludes featured item information and/or promotional opportunitiesavailable only to brand club members, e.g., consumer-users of the systemthat have expressed particular interest in a brand, e.g., via thecreation of a brand-specific consumer-user profile. The brand/item clubcan display brand/item-specific content, e.g., video, audio, printmedia, discussion forms, etc., available only to brand/item clubmembers, as well as item pre-release announcements, special promotions,incentives to participate in brand/item surveys and focus groups, etc.to members of the brand club. For example, the brand club can includepress releases regarding the brand and/or related items, as well ashyperlinks to discussion forums related to the brand and/or item. Stillfurther, the brand can identify certain celebrities, critics, and/orconsumer advocate groups that have identified with and/or commented onthe brand and/or one or more items of the brand. For example, if a brandhas a celebrity endorsement relationship, the brand can displayinformation about that celebrity and his/her endorsement of the brandand/or an item on the brand page. Similarly, the brand can identifycertain individuals or groups as critics of the brand, items, or acategory or subcategory of items for which the brand is known and thebrand can provide information regarding the item/brand opinions of thoseindividuals or groups. Such information can be provided in a hyperlinkto a third party website, or as an audio, video, or text file, as wellas a link to a blog or other discussion forum. It will be understoodthat the components described above can be organized and depicted in auser-interface in a variety of ways, but such variations fall within thefull scope of the invention. Moreover, various additional features canbe included in the item and/or brand club page, e.g., advertisingmaterials, featured items, additional system browsing features, etc.,and such additional features are within the full scope of the invention.

A brand can interact with one or more followers on the system, e.g., bysharing items or brands with followers and those consumer-users thebrand follows, by adding to and/or commenting on a data object, etc. Inone specific embodiment, a brand can also use the system to solicitcomments from one or more followers/following regarding one or more itemor brand data objects in which the followers/following are interested.For example, a brand can add a comment to an item data object asking itsfollowers/following to comment or give a rating of that item. The brandcan also use the commentary field in the data object representation tonotify consumer-users of related items it offers, e.g., if aconsumer-user likes a brand item, then the brand can suggest that thatitem can be used with one or more accessories, e.g., offered by thatbrand or by a related brand. The system can also be used by a brand tocompare its items with those of a competitor brand. For example, a brandcan comment on or create a promotional data object regarding acompetitor brand, thereby challenging that competitor brand to submitits comments in response, as well as users of those brand/competitorbrand items to engage in the challenge.

In a preferred embodiment, the processor is configured to notify theconsumer regarding new item information, new brand information, orcombinations thereof, based on the consumer purchasing preferences,interaction data, or combinations thereof. The system can send theconsumer-user a message, as described above, and/or the system candisplay those data object representations not previously displayed tothe consumer-user in the consumer-user GUI in a more prominent positionin the GUI relative to other data object representations. For example,those data object representations not previously displayed by the systemto the consumer-user can be displayed in reverse chronological order, sothat the newest data object representations appear at the top of theinterface (this is one embodiment of how newer data objectrepresentations can be featured in the GUI relative to other data objectrepresentations and it not intended to be a limiting embodiment). Thenew item information includes a new item offered on the system andinformation related to that new item offering; new information regardingan existing item offered on the system (e.g., an item represented by adata object that may have been previously displayed to theconsumer-user, but new information about that item that was notpreviously displayed to the consumer-user); an item offering new to theconsumer based on the consumer purchasing preferences and informationrelated to the item offering new to that consumer; and combinationsthereof. The new item information can include the identity of newlyreleased item(s), new item description information, new item media, newpurchasing information, and combinations thereof. The new itemdescription information can include new item-specific supportingdocuments and information, item accessories and/or related items, itemrecall information, discontinued item information, and combinationsthereof. New purchasing information includes but is not limited to newitem pricing information, new shipping and handling information, newauthorized retailer information, new availability (e.g., removal frombackorder), item trademarks, item description, item media, newpurchasing information, retail information, or combinations thereof.

Likewise, the system can also notify consumer-users of new brandinformation, e.g., a new brand of items offered on the system andinformation related to the new brand of items; new information relatedto an existing brand of items offered on the system; a brand of itemsnew to the consumer based on the consumer purchasing preferences andinformation related to the brand items new to the consumer, andcombinations thereof. Such new brand information can include informationrelated to one or more brand trademarks, brand description, brand media,new purchasing information, retail information, brand items, brandportfolio, related brands within the brand portfolio, related branddescription, related brand items, and combinations thereof. Branddescription information can include a brand image, one or morebrand-specific supporting documents and information, one or more brandreviews, a brand rating, and combinations thereof. Brand media includesa brand-specific video file, a brand-specific audio file, and printmedia. Brand-specific supporting documents and information are selectedfrom the group consisting of a literature references, reviews, bloglink, press release, forum link, and combinations thereof.

The system can also be directed by a brand to send a consumer-userdirect advertising or promotional information via the system. Suchdirect advertising can be informed by the interaction data generated bythe system, so that the brand can direct those materials to only thoseconsumer-users on the system that have expressed an interest in thebrand or its items. In a preferred embodiment, direct advertising and/orpromotional information regarding an item or brand is relayed to thoseconsumer-users having an interest in that item or brand by advertising-or promotion-specific data object representations that are displayed bythe system on the consumer-user's GUI.

Once a brand profile has been created, a brand-user GUI is displayed bythe system that is displayed only to authorized brand-users and includesdetails regarding the items offered on the system, followers of thebrand and its items, statistics regarding how users are interfacing withthe brand on the system (as described in more detail below), etc. Asshown in FIG. 7( a), the brand-user GUI includes one or more data objectrepresentations (701-705) representing individual item (and/or interest)categories (706), a section of the GUI including general informationabout the brand and links to more details regarding brand items,followers, and individuals the brand follows (707), an activity field(708) that displays activities of the brand and/or followers orindividuals the brand follows on the system. Finally, the brand-user GUIalso includes a selectable menu (709) that allows the brand-user toaccess more information regarding brand items, followers, individualsfollowed by the brand (“following”), brand statistics on the system,system settings, and a link to logout of the system. In addition, muchlike the consumer-user GUI, as shown in FIG. 7( b), the brand-user GUIalso displays more detailed information about individuals following thatbrand (710), as well as individuals the brand follows (not shown).

Marketing Analytics

The system offers the consumer a way to stay abreast of new items andinnovations from their favorite brands, allowing consumers to form apersonal relationship with the brands they are passionate about andshare the experience with their contacts and other passionate shoppersthat are part of the system community. As described above, the systemaggregates new items submitted by numerous brands and presents them toconsumers in an elegant, organized, and compelling way. Consumer-usersdo not have to hunt for or accidentally stumble across new items, butrather the new items are pushed to them in a timely mannerConsumer-users are kept up-to-date and informed so that they can makeeducated decisions about what and when to purchase. In addition toenabling the user to follow brands they like, the system also allowsconsumers to discover new brand and items. Based on what the consumerhas viewed or otherwise expressed an interest in, the system makesrecommendations for items and brands with which the consumer may nothave been familiar.

In addition, the system includes a mechanism for brands to communicatewith existing and potential customers. In one embodiment, the brandcommunicates with consumer-users on the system by modifyingbrand-related data object representations as described above, or bysharing information with members via push notifications and/or directlywith members of a brand club or item club. Alternatively oradditionally, the brand can inform the system administrator to senddirected advertising materials, item or brand information, etc., viaemail through the system to all consumer-users that have expressed aninterest in a brand or its items via one or more purchasing preferences.The ability to provide item pre-release announcements, specialpromotions, incentives to participate in brand/item surveys and focusgroups, etc. to such a targeted group of consumers is extremely valuableto the brand.

The system provides interaction data to the brand so that a brand canoptimize its marketing strategy and consumer outreach. The aggregationand analysis of data collected on the shopping and buying habits of thecommunity of consumer-users is a valuable source of market researchdata. Surveys, reports, analysis, data mining and visualizations of thedata collected by the system can be offered to brands to enable them tooptimize their marketing strategy and consumer outreach. As describedabove in reference to FIG. 1( h), the system generates interaction datafor each data object and stores that interaction data with the dataobject, as well as in a global interaction data database. Theinteraction data includes but are not limited to, the number andidentity of: consumers of the system, consumers of one or more interestcategories, and consumers of one or more interest categories; consumerdemographics of: all consumer-users of the system, consumer-users of oneor more interest categories, system-consumer clicks, system-consumerclicks per interest category, system-consumer impressions,system-consumer impressions per interest category, average interestcategory click through rate, interest category seasonal trend data,average conversion rate, and combinations thereof. Consumer demographicsincludes information related to system-users' gender, ethnicity, age,income, education, home ownership, location, employment status, shoppinghistory, interests, and combinations thereof. In one embodiment, thesystem provides interaction data including consumer-users' shoppinghistory, e.g., a history of items purchased via the system, itemspurchased via a third party shopping system, items browsed via thesystem, brands of items purchased via the system, items identified inthe consumer purchasing preferences, brands of items purchased via athird party shopping system, brand browsing history via the system,brands identified in the consumer purchasing preferences, orcombinations thereof. Shopping history interaction data can be madeavailable to the brand if individual consumer-users provide suchinformation and if those consumer-users allow dissemination of thatinformation to a brand.

In a further preferred embodiment, the system generates dataobject-specific interaction data, e.g., for each individual data objector a data object and its derivative data objects the system collectsinteraction data which is accessible to the brand associated with thatdata object. This data object-specific interaction data includes but isnot limited to, the number and identity of: consumers of the systeminteracting with that data object representation, consumers of one ormore interest categories that interact with that data objectrepresentation, consumer demographics of all consumer-users interactingwith that data object representation, data object representation clicks,data object representation impressions, data object representation clickthrough rate, data object seasonal trend data, average conversion ratefor that data object, and combinations thereof. Consumer demographicsthat can be collected for an individual data object includes informationrelated to system-users' gender, ethnicity, age, income, education, homeownership, location, employment status, shopping history, interests, andcombinations thereof. In one embodiment, the system provides dataobject-specific interaction data including consumer-users' shoppinghistory, e.g., a history of items purchased via the system, itemspurchased via a third party shopping system, items browsed via thesystem, brands of items purchased via the system, items identified inthe consumer purchasing preferences, brands of items purchased via athird party shopping system, brand browsing history via the system,brands identified in the consumer purchasing preferences, orcombinations thereof. Shopping history interaction data can be madeavailable to the brand if individual consumer-users provide suchinformation and if those consumer-users allow dissemination of thatinformation to a brand.

In one embodiment, the processor includes an analysis program configuredto generate a comparative analysis for each brand on the system based oninteraction data over a defined time interval. The comparative analysisincludes a comparison of one or more interaction data parametersdescribed above for one brand vs. one or more additional brands on thesystem. The comparison can be for all brands on the system, and/or forall brands within the interest category or subcategory. For example, ifa brand sells shoes, the system can generate an analysis of interactiondata for the brand itself, but the system can also provide a comparisonof the brand and other brands on the system that sell shoes. In thisregard, the interaction data provided by the system for the brand caninclude the number of consumers on the system with an interest inshopping for shoes, the demographics of those consumers interested inshoes, system-consumer clicks within the shoe interest category,system-consumer impressions within the shoe category, average clickthrough rate for consumers browsing for shoes on the system, seasonaltrend data for the shoe interest category, average conversion ratewithin the shoe interest category, etc. If a sampling of consumer-usershave provided shopping history information, the interaction data caninclude a history of shoe purchases via the system for thoseconsumer-users, shoe purchases via a third party shopping system(s),shoes browsed via the system, shoe brands purchased via the system,shoes identified in the consumers' purchasing preferences, shoe brandspurchased via a third party shopping system, shoe brand browsing historyvia the system, shoe brands identified in the consumers' purchasingpreferences, and combinations thereof. In a further embodiment, theanalysis program can generate a comparative analysis of a brand versusone or more brands selling items in the same interest category andoptionally within the same price point range. In this regard, the brandcan better understand how it compares to a brand with the same customerbase. The analysis program can generate a comparative analysis over adefined time interval, e.g., for the entire time the brand or a brandcomparator (a brand in the same interest category as another brand) hasparticipated in the system (e.g., from the date a brand profile wascreated to the present), over a given range of time the brand or a brandcomparator has participated in the system, a defined number of years,months, or days prior to a consumer login date on the system, e.g., from1-5 years prior to a consumer login on the system, 1-6 months prior to aconsumer login on the system, etc.

The analysis program can also provide an analysis based on brandinteraction data, including but not limited to brand item data objectrepresentation-consumer clicks, brand item data objectrepresentation-consumer impressions, brand item data objectrepresentation click through rate(s), brand item data object conversionrate, brand interest category-consumer clicks, brand interestcategory-consumer impressions, brand interest category click throughrate(s), brand interest category conversion rate, and combinationsthereof. In one embodiment, the brand interaction data are for (i)consumers that have identified a brand in the consumer purchasingpreferences; (ii) consumers that have identified a brand interestcategory in the consumer purchasing preferences; (iii) consumers thathave identified a brand item in the consumer purchasing preferences;(iv) consumers that have identified a brand interest category in theconsumer purchasing preferences; (v) consumers that have followed abrand; (vi) consumers that have followed a brand item; (vii) consumersthat have liked a brand; (viii) consumers that have liked a brand item;(ix) consumers that have commented on and/or rated a brand; (x)consumers that have comments on and/or rated a brand item; (xi)consumers that have added a brand item to one or more lists; and (xii)combinations thereof.

The processor can also provide a brand ranking data in relation to anadditional brand in the same brand and/or interest category and/or thecollective brand and/or interest category. Therefore, the processor cangenerate a ranked ordered list of brands in a given brand and/orinterest category, based on e.g., the number of: brand items sold on thesystem, consumers that have identified that brand in their consumerpurchasing preferences, etc. For example, the processor can generate aranked order list of shoe brands on the system in descending/ascendingorder of the number of shoes sold on the system and/or the total shoesales on the system. Such ranking data can be generated for a brandwithout reference to a time interval or in relation to a specified timeinterval, e.g., since the brand registered on the system, and/or from adefined date to the present.

The processor can generate interaction data for a given locationrelative to others. For example, if consumer-users have provided theirgeographic location, the system can generate a map of a country, county,city, etc., that reflects where consumer-users reside that haveexpressed an interest in that item and/or brand. The brand can selectthe geographic location it wants to receive interaction data about orthe system can create a map that reflects the location of allconsumer-users interested in the brand. The map can also reflect therelative interest of consumer-users in that brand from one geographiclocations or territory to another. For example, the map may highlight acity in red that includes a large number of consumer-users of the systeminterested in the brand, whereas a city in blue indicates a relativelylow number of interested consumer-users. The map can further reflect therelative number of interested consumer-users in relation to the overallpopulation of that geographic location. A brand can use thisinformation, e.g., to identify those geographic locations that may bewell served by a physical brand store front because of high demand in arelatively dense population.

Aggregation & Presentation of Selected System Content

In an additional embodiment, the system allows a consumer-user, a brand,and/or a group of consumer-users to select and aggregate contentavailable on the system, e.g., videos, slide shows, audio, graphics,print media, etc., and combinations thereof, into a data table on thesystem and organize, annotate, and present that content in any suitablepresentation format or medium and make that presentation available toadditional consumer-users of the system. The content can be generallyavailable to all system consumer-users or content or a selection thereofcan be made available to a subset of consumer-users, e.g., members of anitem or brand club. An individual can optionally annotate thepresentation, e.g., adding written, audio, and/or video commentary toall or a portion of the presentation, save that presentation to aselected data table on the system, and share that presentation with thecommunity of consumer-users of the system or a selection thereof.

For example, if a brand wants to promote items in a particular interestcategory, it can aggregate item media available on the system for itemswithin that interest category, e.g., print media (e.g., writtenmaterials and print advertising), video media (e.g., video advertising(commercials), item demonstrations, video reviews, etc.), audio media(e.g., audio advertising, audio discussion forums, or podcasts), etc.,in any suitable presentation format, e.g., in a streaming video that canbe viewed on a television and/or on a computer, with or withoutsupplementary written, visual, or auditory commentary, and make thatpresentation available to consumer-users of the system or a selectionthereof. The brand can create a collection of such presentationmaterials, e.g., for items within a selected interest category, acrossitem categories, or for all items, and the brand can save the collectedpresentations in one or more data tables on the system. Eachpresentation is optionally identified by a name and description, and thepresentations can be modified, e.g., new items or content can be added,updated, and/or deleted from the data table, by the creator or arepresentative thereof. In addition, a consumer-user can aggregate itemand/or brand media available on the system, e.g., items and/or brands inwhich the consumer-user has expressed an interest, e.g., print media,video media, audio media, etc., in any suitable presentation format,with or without written, visual, or auditory commentary, and make thatpresentation available to additional consumer-users of the system or aselection thereof. Likewise, a group of consumer-users or aconsumer-advocate group or representative thereof can also aggregateitem and/or brand media available on the system, e.g., items and/orbrands that have been reviewed by that group, e.g., print media, videomedia, audio media, etc., in any suitable presentation format, with orwithout written, visual, or auditory commentary, and make thatpresentation available to additional consumer-users of the system or aselection thereof.

Presentation of data object representations in a desktop and/or mobilecomputing interface preferentially can be a reverse chronological streamof most recently updated and/or created data object representations. Asillustrated in FIG. 10( a), the stream of data object representations,elements A-X in FIG. 10( a), can be presented in a continuous flow, fromleft to right and down in the GUI. In a specific embodiment, the GUIdisplays an infinite scroll of data object representations if systemactivity on those data object representations is continuous.Alternatively, the GUI can display a certain pre-defined number of dataobject representations per screen of the GUI, depending on GUI size andresolution. The user can scroll down the screen of the browser, ifweb-based, or application interface, if the application is native to acomputing device. In this way the system can batch up the viewable dataobject representations in sets because the number of data objectrepresentations approaches infinity and therefore cannot be displayed onthe computing device as one complete set. As the user scrolls down, theinterface fetches the next set of data object representations todisplay. Additionally, as described herein, the user interacts with aspecific data object representation by selecting it to open a detailedview of the selected data object. This view can be an overlay view(1001) as illustrated in FIG. 10( b) or it can be a full screen view(not shown).

To present this same set of data object representations on a television,the dataset can be organized into a video stream where each frame is acertain defined set of data object representations viewable in onetelevision screen. This is illustrated in FIG. 11)(a)-(c), wherein theavailable set of data object representations are organized, in thiscase, as six data object representations per frame (e.g., Frame 1(1101), Frame 2 (1102), Frame 3 (1103), and Frame 4 (1104)), with apotentially infinite set of frames each containing some number of dataobject representations. It is beneficial that each data objectrepresentation viewable in a frame is completely viewable on thetelevision screen to provide an optimal experience for the viewer. Thesystem can provide one or more different streams of data objectrepresentations based on system preferences and/or user preferences.Each of these streams can be broadcast to one or more specificfrequencies or channels for television viewing as allocated to thesystem by a governing entity. The system can continuously broadcast thevarious streams of data object representations as the system is used.The transition from one frame to the next can have a system-provided,pre-programmed delay to provide the user an optimum time to sufficientlyview each frame, for example, 3 seconds per frame meaning, each frame isviewed for 3 seconds before transitioning to the next frame. This ismerely an example of a representative delay timeframe. The “3 seconddelay” can also be realized by repeating each frame a prescribed numberof times consecutively in the stream to emulate a normal video viewingexperience.

In viewing a particular stream of data object representations, thetelevision decoder, referred to as decoder, can dictate how the user caninteract with the stream of data object representations. Variousdecoders support decoding received television broadcast transmissions,namely, Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) via satellite (DVB-S, DVB-S2,DVB-SH), cable (DVB-C, DVB-C2) and other internationally-recognizedmechanisms for transmission, into a form which can be viewed on atelevision. The stream can also be transmitted over UHF or VHF on aprovided frequency (e.g., channel) received over a standard antennawithout a decoder meaning the viewer cannot interact with the stream.They can only view content as it streams on their television screen.

If viewing a particular stream on a decoder, for example, Cable DigitalVideo Recorder (DVR), TiVO, Roku, DirectTV, GoogleTV, Apple TV, gamingsystems, including but not limited to, XBOX360, XBOX1, PS3, PS4, and/orWiiU, and others, the system can generate a more interactive experienceon the stream of data object representations for the user. Theseinteractive experiences can be realized on a decoder using a developmentenvironment, for example, DVB Multimedia Home Platform which provides aplatform for developing commercial video applications on decoders. Sincethe autonomous unit in the stream is the frame of data objectrepresentations, using a “select” function of the decoder and/or itsremote control can identify the currently viewed frame for detailedviewing. The stream of data object representations can pause for theuser when viewing the data object details of a particular frame. Thedecoder can be enabled to request from the system the data objectrepresentations contained in the selected frame. The system can returnthe full set of data for each data object representation in the frame ora smaller set of one or more data object representations if the data istoo large to send in one message to the decoder. In this way, thedecoder can request the details of one or more data objectrepresentations to present to the user. As illustrated in FIGS. 11( b)and (c), the first data object, data object representation A (1105), canbe displayed in full detail (1106) much like the computer orientationview (as shown in FIGS. 10( a)-(b)). Additionally, the user can scrollthrough the provided set of data object representations using a “left”and “right” control (1107) on the decoder and/or its remote control. An“up” and “down” control (not shown) can be used also to provide the samefunction. The single-data-object representation-viewing modality isillustrated in FIGS. 11( a)-11(c) but all of the data objectrepresentations can be displayed in summary view much like the frame oras a list, and the user can use the up/down/left/right and selectcontrols to navigate to the desired data object representation forviewing. The user can press the “exit” control on the decoder and/or itsremote control to return to the stream which resumes streaming.

As described above, there can be one or more streams of data objectrepresentations. Each stream can be allocated to its own broadcastfrequency or the various streams can be provided using an “on demand”modality as illustrated in FIGS. 12( a)-12(d). The viewer can select aprescribed channel on the decoder which can provide a list of availablestreams to view (referred to in FIGS. 12( a)-12(d) as Primary Streams1-3 and n, (1201-1204, respectively), a summary view of a set ofrepresentative data object representations (1205), and a description ofthe stream (1206). The available streams can be those provided bydefault by the system. The viewer can choose a stream using the up/downand select control on the decoder and/or its remote control. Once astream is chosen the user starts viewing as illustrated in FIG. 12( b)with the same interaction as described for FIG. 11.

There can also be a “personal” stream (1207) available for the viewerwhich on selection requires the user to log into the system asillustrated in FIG. 12( c), establishing a user-specific session. Thesystem can provide the information of who is logged in through thedecoder, as illustrated in lower left corner as an example, where, noone is logged in or ultimately someone is logged in. The decoder canalso provide the user session control and display itself. Once loggedin, the user can view the additional set of data object representationstreams available just for that user as illustrated in FIG. 12( d). Theuser can then interact with the list as described for FIG. 12( a).

The mechanism of the viewer logging into the system from theirtelevision decoder can be made more efficient by the decoder providingto the user a decoder-specific “key,” i.e., an alphanumeric string, forexample, and optionally including one or more special characters. Thedecoder uses one or more art-recognized methods (algorithms) to decodesignals (and likewise encode), and suitable methods include but are notlimited to QAM for cable, ATSC for over the air transmissions, IP forInternet content, and the like. The key can then be entered into thesystem by the viewer via the web, mobile or other computer-orientedinterface which can associate the user's television decoder with theuser's login on the system. In this way, the user can be automaticallylogged into the system once they turn on the television as the decodercan automatically authenticate itself with the system. The mechanism ofgetting the decoder's key can be either presented to the user on thetelevision screen for them to manually enter into the system or this canbe performed automatically between the decoder and the system withoutuser intervention. The key can also be copied off the decoder to anexternal storage medium, for example, USB stick, which is then uploadedinto the system via a service provided by the system. The key can alsobe passed to the system by the decoder after a user manually logs intothe system from the decoder. Typically it is best practice to inform theuser of this kind of interaction between the decoder and system, givingthem the option to opt-out of storing the decoder's key on the system.In addition, the system can support the viewer having one or moretelevision decoders in the case of the viewer having multiple decoders.

Monetization

The system can be monetized by any suitable method. In one embodiment,consumer-users can pay for membership on the system or general accessmembership can be free, but access to certain services or portions ofthe system can garner a fee. For example, while general accessmembership can be free of charge, consumer-users can pay a fee to becomea member of a brand or item club.

In a preferred embodiment, consumer-users are granted full access to thesystem free of charge, while brands pay to access and promote theiritems on the system as described above. In one embodiment, brands willpay a fee to advertise on the system and/or to include a hyperlink of abrand website to view a brand item on the system. In addition, a brandcan pay a registration fee, e.g., a one-time flat fee for general accessto the site, or a periodic subscription charge, e.g., a flat fee forgeneral access to the site payable e.g., on a monthly, bimonthly,annual, semi-annual, etc. basis. In one embodiment, general access for abrand to the system is free, while the creation and display of a brandpage on the system can be offered for a one time flat fee, a periodicflat fee, a flat fee per impression (known in the art as a cost perimpression or CPM), flat fee per click (known as the cost per click orCPC) for a click-through to a brand website. Alternatively, the additionof an item listing on the system can be offered for a one time flat fee,a periodic flat fee, a flat fee per impression of the item listing onthe system, or a fee based on a percentage of the sales of the item. Inone embodiment, the brand can list a defined number of items on thesystem for free and for an additional fee the brand can list a number ofitems above that basic number.

Still further, the inclusion of certain features in the brand page cangarner an additional fee. In one embodiment, the brand can include adefined number of images, video, and other media in the brand page, butfor an additional fee the brand can include additional documents (e.g.,item insert, manual, etc.) images, video, and other media. Theadditional fee can be based on a flat rate per additional image, video,or media, or on the number of impressions that yield a click through toview that image, video, or media. In addition, the inclusion of awebsite link to the brand or to a retailer or distributor of that brandcan be offered for an additional flat fee, a cost per click through tothat website, or a charge based on a percentage of item sales. The brandcan also include a call button on the brand page, e.g., a link to abrand phone number (e.g., brand customer service, sales representative,etc.) that when clicked by the consumer-user places a call to that phonenumber. The inclusion of a call button can be offered for a flat fee percall button, a cost per click for each click through to the call button,or a charge calculated based on a percentage of item sales. As discussedabove, the addition of an item on a featured item list and/or theaddition of a brand on a featured brand list can also garner anadditional fee in terms of a cost per impression for display in afeatured list, a cost per click for display in a featured list, anauction among brands on the system to compete for display in a featuredlist (with bids made in terms of a flat price, a cost per impression, ora cost per click).

Monetization can also be based on items purchased via the system. Forexample, if an item is purchased directly through the system or a thirdparty website, the brand will pay a cost per click flat fee for eachtime the item purchase is initiated on the system (even if the purchaseis consummated on a third party website), a cost per click based on itemsales, or a percentage of sales for all or some of the items purchasedduring the session on a third party website initiated on the system.

Still further, advertising items on the system, e.g., prominentadvertising placement of a search result screen and/or a recommendationsscreen. Each of these advertising methods can be offered for a cost perclick, cost per impression, or a flat fee, and optionally in an auctionamong brands on the system to compete for advertising space on thesystem.

Additional methods of monetization are also contemplated. For example,the system can offer the brand various types of interaction data free ofcharge, while certain types of interaction data or presentation ofinteraction data in different formats or custom formats can be offeredfor an additional fee. For example, demographic information can beoffered for an additional fee, and optionally, the presentation ofdemographic information in a way that also reflects the relativegeographic location of consumer-users with that demographic can alsogarner an additional fee. Moreover, the system can also offer acompanion application that will operate on a smart phone, GPS, tablet,etc., and displays items from the system that are available from a storevisited by a consumer-user. The companion application can be offered fora fee to the consumer-user and/or to the brand, retailer, etc. Thecompanion application can also be offered for a fee to the consumer-userby the brand, retailer, etc. A companion application could also bedeveloped for consumer-users specifically for a brand, retailer, etc.

Still further, the version of the system can be offered to a brand thatallows the brand to create a system as described above with a singularfocus on that brand's items. This tailored version of the system can beoffered at an initial price for software customization, a percentage ofsales made using the system as a brand platform, service charges forrunning the system servers, etc.

Specific Embodiments (a) System for Children

In a preferred embodiment, a system as described above is designed foruse by children. The items included in this type of system are, forexample, child safe and preferably include relevant safety informationin the data objects, and further include an educational rating and anindication of a suitable age-range and gender. The system preferablyrequires a child's profile to be linked to a parent profile and thechild's profile includes parental control settings that enables theparent to view the child's activities on the system, as well as tocustomize the fields the child can view of a data object, e.g., removingprice, advertisements, and age-inappropriate content and commentariesassociated with that data object. The parent also has the ability torestrict access to the child's activities on the system to a limited setof additional consumer-users and brand-users of the system. In addition,the system can include elements that are geared toward children, e.g.,age-appropriate jokes, games, etc.

(b) Voting Mechanism

As noted above, a consumer-user can interact with one or more contactson the system, e.g., by sharing items or brands with contacts, by addingto and/or commenting on a data object representation, etc. In onespecific embodiment, a consumer-user can use the system to solicitcomments from one or more contacts regarding one or more items or branddata objects in which the consumer-user is interested. For example, if aconsumer-user is considering a purchase of two or more items, he/she canshare those item pages with one or more contacts in his/her contactsnetwork via the system and ask those contacts to vote for or otherwisecomment on the item or brand he/she should purchase. In one embodiment,the system offers a voting mechanism that can be sent via the systemfrom a consumer-user to one or more contacts, and the voting mechanismenables the one or more contacts to indicate which item or brand theconsumer-user should purchase. In addition, the voting mechanism alsoincludes a field that enables the one or more contacts to comment on theitem offerings. In one embodiment, the consumer-user can requestfeedback on an item/brand comparison such as this of a subset ofcontacts in his/her network, e.g., only a select group of contacts orfamily. The contacts or family included in this voting mechanism can addany comments to the commentary field of the data object representationand contacts or family can also suggest other item/brand theconsumer-user may consider in the alternative. A time limit canoptionally be placed by the consumer-user on this voting mechanism or itmay be unlimited. If the consumer-user places a time limit on the votingmechanism, the data object representation can be modified to include acountdown that indicates the time remaining in the vote. In oneembodiment, voting mechanism dialogs such as this can be monitored bybrands and brands are free to engage in the dialog regarding the item orbrand. A data object representation that is the subject of a votingmechanism can also be highlighted in some way to differentiate it fromother data object representations in the system, e.g., color-coded toindicate that it is the subject of a voting mechanism.

(c) Brand-Brand Challenge

The system can also be used by a brand to compare its items with thoseof a competitor brand. For example, a brand can comment on or create apromotional data object regarding a competitor brand, therebychallenging that competitor brand to submit its comments in response,and users of those brand/competitor brand items can also engage in thechallenge. In one specific embodiment, a car manufacturer creates a dataobject for a new car and that data object representation highlightsthose features of the car that are superior to its competitor in thesame class. The car manufacturer notifies the competitor carmanufacturer that it has created this data object that includesinformation related to the competitor and the competitor can comment onthat data object representation in the commentary field, e.g., in wordsor by the inclusion of supporting documentation challenging thesuperiority of the first car manufacturer. This debate is displayed inthe system to consumer-users that have a relationship with the carmanufacturer and/or the competitor car manufacturer, and thoseconsumer-users can also submit their comments to the debate in the dataobject representation. Like the voting mechanism described above, thebrand-brand challenge can have a time limit imposed on it, set by eitherparty to the challenge, and data object representations created for thispurpose can be highlighted to differentiate it from other data objectrepresentations in the system, e.g., color coded, to indicate that it isthe subject of a brand-brand challenge.

System Architecture

FIG. 8 shows an example of a suitable computing system environment (800)which may be used to implement various aspects of the invention. Thiscomputing system environment is only one example of a suitable computingenvironment, and is not intended to suggest any limitation as to thescope of use or functionality of the invention. Neither should thecomputing environment (800) be interpreted as having any dependency orrequirement relating to any one or combination of components illustratedin the exemplary operating environment (800). The invention isoperational with numerous other general-purpose or special-purposecomputing system environments or configurations. Examples of well-knowncomputing systems, environments, and/or configurations that may besuitable for use with the invention include, but are not limited to,personal computers, server computers, hand-held devices (e.g.,“smartphones,” tablet devices, etc.), laptop devices, multiprocessorsystems, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmableconsumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers,distributed computing environments that include any of the above systemsor devices, or components thereof, and the like.

The computing environment may execute computer-executable instructions,such as one or more program modules. Generally, program modules includeroutines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. thatperform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types.The invention may also be practiced in distributed computingenvironments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices thatare linked through a communications network. In a distributed computingenvironment, program modules may be located in both local and remotecomputer storage media including memory storage devices.

FIG. 8 shows an example system for implementing aspects of theinvention, which includes computer (810). Components of computer (810)may include, but are not limited to, a processing unit (820), a systemmemory (830), and a system bus (821) that couples various systemcomponents including the system memory to the processing unit (820). Thesystem bus (821) may comprise any suitable bus structure.

Computer (810) typically includes a variety of computer readable media.Computer readable media can be any available media that can be accessedby computer (810) and includes both volatile and nonvolatile, andremovable and non-removable media. By way of example, and notlimitation, computer readable media may comprise computer storage mediaand communication media. Computer storage media includes volatile andnonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any methodor technology for storage of information. Information may include, forexample, computer readable instructions, data structures, programmodules or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is notlimited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology,CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage,magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or othermagnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to storethe desired information and which can accessed by computer (810).Communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions,data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated datasignal, such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includesany information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means asignal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed insuch a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example,and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as awired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such asacoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of the anyof the above should also be included within the scope of computerreadable media.

The system memory (830) includes computer storage media in the form ofvolatile and/or nonvolatile memory such as read only memory (ROM) (831)and random access memory (RAM) (832). A basic input/output system (833)(BIOS), containing the basic routines that help to transfer informationbetween elements within computer (810), such as during start-up, istypically stored in ROM (831). RAM (832) typically contains data and/orprogram modules that are immediately accessible to and/or presentlybeing operated on by processing unit (820). By way of example, and notlimitation, FIG. 8 shows operating system (834), application programs(835), other program modules (836), and program data (837).

The computer (810) may also include other removable/non-removable,volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media. For example, FIG. 8 depictsa hard disk drive (841) that reads from or writes to non-removable,nonvolatile magnetic media, a magnetic disk drive (851) that reads fromor writes to a removable, nonvolatile magnetic disk (852), and anoptical disk drive (855) that reads from or writes to a removable,nonvolatile optical disk (856) such as a CD ROM or other optical media.Other removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storagemedia that can be used in the exemplary operating environment include,but are not limited to, magnetic tape cassettes, flash memory cards,digital versatile disks, digital video tape, solid state RAM, solidstate ROM, and the like. The hard disk drive (841) is typicallyconnected to the system bus (821) through a non-removable memoryinterface such as interface (840), and magnetic disk drive (851) andoptical disk drive (855) are typically connected to the system bus (821)by a removable memory interface, such as interface (850).

The drives and their associated computer storage media discussed aboveprovide storage of computer readable instructions, data structures,program modules and other data for the computer (810). For example, harddisk drive (841) is shown as storing operating system (844), applicationprograms (845), other program modules (846), and program data (847).These components may either be the same as or different from operatingsystem (834), application programs (835), other program modules (836),and program data (837). Operating system (844), application programs(845), other program modules (846), and program data (847) are givendifferent numbers here to illustrate that at a minimum they aredifferent copies of the same set(s) of instructions.

A user may enter commands and information into the computer (810)through input devices such as a keyboard (862) and pointing device(861), which may include a touch screen, mouse, trackball, etc. Otherinput devices (not shown) may include a microphone, joystick, game pad,satellite dish, scanner, etc. These and other input devices are oftenconnected to the processing unit (820) through a user input interface(860) that is often coupled to the system bus, but may alternatively beconnected by other interface and bus structures, such as a parallelport, game port or a universal serial bus (USB). A monitor (891) orother type of display device is also connected to the system bus (821)via an interface, such as a video interface (890). In addition to themonitor, computers may also include other peripheral output devices suchas speakers (897) and printer (896), which may be connected through aoutput peripheral interface (895).

The computer (810) may operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer(880) in the example configuration shown. The remote computer (880) maybe a server, personal computer, router, network PC, peer device or othercommon network node, and typically includes many or all of the elementsdescribed above in relation to the computer (810), although only amemory storage device (881) is shown. The logical connections depictedinclude a local area network (LAN) (871) and a wide area network (WAN)(873), but may also include other networks. Such networking environmentsare commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranetsand the Internet.

When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer (810) isconnected to the LAN (871) through a network interface or adapter (870).When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer (810) typicallyincludes a modem (872) or other means for establishing communicationsover the WAN (873), such as the Internet. The modem (872), which may beinternal or external, may be connected to the system bus (821) via theuser input interface (860), or other appropriate mechanism. In anetworked environment, program modules depicted relative to the computer(810), or portions thereof, may be stored in the remote memory storagedevice. By way of example, remote application programs (885) are shownresiding on memory device (881). It will be appreciated that the networkconnections shown are merely examples and other means of establishing acommunications link between computers may be used.

FIG. 9 illustrates one embodiment in which invention can also bepracticed in a distributed computing environment (900) where tasks areperformed by remote processing devices that are linked through acommunications network. In the distributed environment depicted in FIG.9, a user input interface is provided on a local computer (901) thatincludes a web browser (902) and/or a user input interface is providedon a smart phone (903) that includes an application (904) that canaccess the system (905). The system (905) comprises one or more remoteprocessing devices that are linked through a communications network,where each remote processing device performs one or more tasks orroutines by executing and/or interfacing with one or more programs,objects, components, data structures, etc. In the system depicted inFIG. 9, a website operated by module (906) interfaces with web browser(902) and that website interfaces with a web services device (907).Alternatively, application (904) can interface directly with the webservices device (907). The web services device collects and/or sendsinteraction data from a database (908). In one embodiment, the systemfurther includes one or more worker modules (909) configured to receivemessages and process those messages in the message queue (910) toefficiently manage data traffic on the system. For example, if thesystem receives information from a consumer-user to modify a dataobject, the worker module can process that message, e.g., to create aderivative data object and display that derivative data object to asubset of consumer-users and/or brand-users in the system.

Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment of thisinvention, it is to be appreciated that various alterations,modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled inthe art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intendedto be part of this disclosure, and are intended to be within the spiritand scope of the invention. Further, though some advantages of thepresent invention are indicated, it should be appreciated that not everyembodiment of the invention will include every described advantage, andother advantages not described may be realized. Further, someembodiments may not implement features described as advantageous herein.Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way ofexample only.

The above-described embodiments of the present invention can beimplemented in any of numerous ways. For example, the embodiments may beimplemented using hardware, software or a combination thereof. Whenimplemented in software, the software code can be executed on anysuitable processor or collection of processors, whether provided in asingle computer or distributed among multiple computers. Such processorsmay be implemented as integrated circuits, with one or more processorsin an integrated circuit component. Though, a processor may beimplemented using circuitry in any suitable format. Further, it shouldbe appreciated that a computer may be embodied in any of a number offorms, some of which are described above.

As noted, a computer may have one or more input and output devices.These devices can be used, among other things, to present a userinterface. Examples of output devices that can be used to provide a userinterface include printers or display screens for visual presentation ofoutput and speakers or other sound generating devices for audiblepresentation of output. Examples of input devices that can be used for auser interface include keyboards, and pointing devices, such as mice,touch pads, and digitizing tablets. As another example, a computer mayreceive input information through speech recognition or in other audibleformat.

Also, the various methods or processes outlined herein may be coded assoftware that is executable on one or more processors that employ anyone of a variety of operating systems or platforms. Additionally, suchsoftware may be written using any of a number of suitable programminglanguages and/or programming or scripting tools, and also may becompiled as executable machine language code or intermediate code thatis executed on a framework or virtual machine.

In this respect, the invention may be embodied as a computer readablestorage medium (or multiple computer readable media) (e.g., a computermemory, one or more floppy discs, compact discs (CD), optical discs,digital video disks (DVD), magnetic tapes, flash memories, circuitconfigurations in semiconductor devices, or other tangible computerstorage medium) encoded with one or more programs that, when executed onone or more computers or other processors, perform methods thatimplement the various embodiments of the invention discussed above. Asis apparent from the foregoing examples, a computer readable storagemedium may retain information for a sufficient time to providecomputer-executable instructions in a non-transitory form. Such acomputer readable storage medium or media can be transportable, suchthat the program or programs stored thereon can be loaded onto one ormore different computers or other processors to implement variousaspects of the present invention as discussed above. As used herein, theterm “computer-readable storage medium” encompasses only acomputer-readable medium that can be considered to be a manufactured(e.g., article of manufacture) or a machine. Alternatively oradditionally, the invention may be embodied as a computer readablemedium other than a computer-readable storage medium, such as apropagating signal.

The terms “program” or “software” are used herein in a generic sense torefer to any type of computer code or set of computer-executableinstructions that can be employed to program a computer or otherprocessor to implement various aspects of the present invention asdiscussed above. Additionally, it should be appreciated that accordingto one aspect of this embodiment, one or more computer programs thatwhen executed perform methods of the present invention need not resideon a single computer or processor, but may be distributed in a modularfashion amongst a number of different computers or processors toimplement various aspects of the present invention.

Computer-executable instructions may be in many forms, such as programmodules, executed by one or more computers or other devices. Generally,program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, datastructures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particularabstract data types. Typically the functionality of the program modulesmay be combined or distributed as desired in various embodiments.

Also, data structures may be stored in computer-readable media in anysuitable form. For simplicity of illustration, data structures may beshown to have fields that are related through location in the datastructure. Such relationships may likewise be achieved by assigningstorage for the fields with locations in a computer-readable medium thatconveys relationship between the fields. However, any suitable mechanismmay be used to establish a relationship between information in fields ofa data structure, including through the use of pointers, tags or othermechanisms that establish relationship between data elements.

The present invention is not to be limited in scope by the specificembodiments described herein. Indeed, various modifications of themethod in addition to those described herein will become apparent tothose skilled in the art from the foregoing description and accompanyingfigures. Such modifications are intended to fall within the scope of theclaims. Various publications are cited herein, the disclosures of whichare incorporated by reference in their entireties.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer system comprising: a plurality of userdevices each having a display interface available to a user; a pluralityof item providers; a global database of data objects, each data objectcomprising a unique object identifier of that object and a user, item,or provider identifier of a user, item or provider to which that objectrelates, the data objects including a user association data objectcomprising a target user identifier of a target user and a follower useridentifier of a user following the target user, wherein the globaldatabase is configured responsive to the target user expressing atracking interest in a data object representation by instigating atracking instruction at their user device to create an associationbetween the target user identifier and the data object representation; aglobal tracking database configured responsive to the target userexpressing the tracking interest in the data object to store theassociation; and an information exchange computer configured, responsiveto the target user expressing the tracking interest in the data objectto access the global database and the global tracking database and todisplay the data object representation to the follower user via thedisplay interface of their user device.
 2. A computer implemented methodof selecting data objects for interaction with a user at a graphicaluser interface, the method comprising: receiving a data stream from anitem provider, the data stream identifying items available from the itemprovider; storing a data object in a global database with a provideridentifier uniquely identifying the item provider; storing for each itemin the data stream a data object with an item identifier uniquelyidentifying the item; detecting a user interaction at a graphical userinterface of a user device, the interaction with an item or itemprovider data object representation, and associating the data objectwith a user identifier uniquely identifying the user; storing in atracking database the association between the data object and the useridentifier; and using the tracking database to select a customised dataset of data objects based on the associations in the tracking database,the customised data set being for presentation at the graphical userinterface.
 3. A computer system comprising: a plurality of user deviceseach having a display interface available to a user; a plurality of itemproviders; a global database of data objects, each data objectcomprising a unique object identifier of that object and a user, item,or provider identifier of a user, item or provider to which that objectrelates, the data objects including a user association data objectcomprising a target user identifier of a target user and a follower useridentifier of a user following the target user, wherein the globaldatabase is configured responsive to the target user initiating aconversation regarding a data object representation by instigating aconversation instruction at their user device to create a newconversation data object based on that data object; a global trackingdatabase configured responsive to the target user initiating theconversation regarding the data object representation to store anassociation between the user identifier of the target user, the objectidentifier of that data object, and the object identifier of the createdconversation data object; and an information exchange computerconfigured, responsive to the target user initiating the conversationregarding the data object representation to access the global databaseand the global tracking database and to display the conversation dataobject representation to the follower user via the display interface oftheir user device.
 4. A computer implemented method of selecting dataobjects for interaction with a user at a graphical user interface, themethod comprising: receiving a data stream from an item provider, thedata stream identifying items available from the item provider; storinga data object in a global database with a provider identifier uniquelyidentifying the item provider; storing for each item in the data streama data object with an item identifier uniquely identifying the item;detecting a user interaction at a graphical user interface of a userdevice, the interaction with an item or item provider data objectrepresentation and comprising initiating a conversation regarding thedata object representation, and creating a conversation data object witha conversation identifier uniquely identifying the user and the item oritem provider represented by the data object representation; creating ina tracking database an association between the conversation data object,the user and the item and/or item provider data object; and using thetracking database to select a customised data set of data objects basedon the associations in the tracking database, the customised data setbeing for presentation at the graphical user interface.
 5. A method ofexchanging information on a system between a first consumer-user and oneor more additional consumer-users, the system comprising (a) a pluralityof consumer-users including the first consumer-user and the one or moreadditional consumer-users, wherein the first and one or more additionalconsumer-users are connected in the system, and (b) a plurality ofbrands including the first brand, wherein the system is configured toreceive, filter, and/or display information related to the firstconsumer-user, the first brand, the plurality of consumer-users, theplurality of brands, a commercial item, interaction data, comparativeinteraction data and combinations thereof; the method comprising actsof: a. Viewing, by the first consumer-user, a subset of first brandinformation that is provided by the system to the first consumer-userand the one or more additional consumer-users; and b. Viewing, by thefirst consumer-user, an interaction with the subset of first brandinformation comprising a conversation initiated by the firstconsumer-user and/or the one or more additional consumer-users, whereinthe conversation relates to one or more members of the subset of firstbrand information.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein the conversation isdisplayed by the system to the first consumer-user and one or moreadditional consumer-users in a conversation data object.
 7. The methodof claim 5 further comprising, viewing, by the first consumer-userand/or the one or more additional consumer-users a modified conversationbased on the conversation initiated in step (b).
 8. The method of claim7 wherein the modified conversation is displayed by the system to thefirst consumer-user and one or more additional consumer-users in amodified conversation data object.